County Looks at Acquiring Land in Robinson Preserves for Conservation and Watershed Protection

MANATEE--Natural Resources Director Charlie Hunsicker outlined a proposal during Tuesday’s BCC work session for the county to acquire three parcels of land in cooperation with the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) with a management lease back to Manatee County for conservation and water management protection.

The land parcels are located in Robinson Preserves and Braden River Ecosystem Preserves at Limpken Loop and Linger Lodge.

The SWFWMD would acquire nearly 150 acres of land in Robinson Preserves (appraised at $2.52 million) for just under $2.3 million with a management lease back to the county. Fifty acres retained by Robinson Farms in the southeast quadrant of the property adjacent to 99^th St. East would be used for construction of 60 single family homes. The County would construct playground amenities, public parking, recreational trails, canoe and kayak trails with amenities within ten years of the acquisition date.

”Restoration costs would be funded through grants and matching funds from the county as they are available“, said Mr. Hunsicker.

The second part of the acquisition proposal would be approximately eight acres at Limpken Loop (appraised at $136,280) and twenty-four acres at Linger Lodge (appraised at $3.55 million). Linger Lodge is made up of five parcels. Limpken Loop is undeveloped with approximately 2000 feet of river frontage.

The Board of County Commissioners will be presented with willing seller purchase offers of these properties to acquire contingent on available funding. The SWFWMD board will then consider the proposal for acquisition with 100 percent funding from SWFWMD sources of revenue, including a provision for funding county expenses for land maintenance activities for three years following acquisition.

The County will then need to seek competitive grants to complete the environmental restoration of the properties.

County Administrator Ed Hunzeker said the proposal will be brought before the commissioners at a future board meeting. ”The next step is to get your conceptual approval“, he said. ”It may take several months to get the details in place. Nothing is for sure until we get it all in writing.“