November 10, 2016

SFWMD Governing Board Protects
Land from Potential Development

West Palm Beach, FL - At its monthly meeting today, S outh Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) Governing Board unanimously approved a proposal to surplus and sell District-owned property in unincorporated Palm Beach County that is no longer needed, saving taxpayer dollars and generating revenue to invest in future Everglades restoration. At the same time, the proposed sale will preserve the land for agriculture and prohibit future residential or commercial development and go the extra step of providing for an agricultural easement for long-term protection for the property.
 
In addition, the Governing Board offered to allow an environmental group, if one were to express interest, to co-hold the conservation easement - another layer of protection from future development.
 
"There is no reason for the District to own land that it doesn't need for public purposes. That is why we declared this property surplus," said Vice Chairman Kevin Powers. "While this sale benefits all residents, it also provides double the assurance the public is looking for that this land will never be developed. This is good for conservation, good for the environment and good for taxpayers."
   
The Governing Board unanimously voted to declare surplus 581.24 acres commonly known as the Pero Property west of U.S. 441 and north of Atlantic Avenue adjacent to Water Conservation Area 1. The District bought interests in this property in the early 2000s.
 
The District intended to build a reservoir on this site as part of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan. Those intended uses have since been transferred to other properties and restoration efforts are no longer needed in the Pero Property.
 
The surplus proposal approved by the Governing Board authorizes a conservation easement on the property that could be held by one or more organizations. This easement strictly limits future land use to agricultural purposes and prohibits any future residential or commercial development.
   
Preliminary estimates indicate the sale of the property will generate at least $10 million for the District, funds that could be invested in other restoration projects throughout its 16-county region that are needed to benefit residents.
 
The Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners would also have to approve declaring the land surplus as well as any sale of the property.
Media Contact: 
Randy Smith  |   rrsmith@sfwmd.gov    |  Office: 561-682-2800  |  Cell: 561-389-3386
The South Florida Water Management District is a regional governmental agency that manages the water resources in the southern part of the state. It is the oldest and largest of the state's five water management districts. Our mission is to protect South Florida's water resources by balancing and improving flood control, water supply, water quality and natural systems.