In general, nominations to the Conservation Lands Acquisition Program must be able to answer “yes” to a minimum of four out the following seven questions to be eligible for further consideration for potential acquisition. Applications may or may not be considered if the asking price is significantly higher than current market conditions. (See Criteria 1).
1) Does the owner indicate by his/her asking price a willingness to sell below market value range?
All applications to nominate a property to the Conservation 20/20 Program must include the asking price. County staff will conduct a market analysis of the property in order to compare the asking price with current market conditions.
2) Are there any other funds available to contribute towards the purchase price of the parcel?
Contributory purchase funds must be currently available to acquire the nominated property. For example, a pending grant application for funding would not qualify. Contributory purchase funds are typically provided by not-for-profit groups or government agencies.
3) Does the parcel contain documented environmentally sensitive lands?
Environmentally sensitive lands may include, but are not limited to:
- Wetlands
- Rare and Unique Uplands (scrub, mature pine flatwoods, oak or cabbage palm hammock, tropical hardwood)
- An outstanding natural plant community
- Evidence of listed wildlife or plant species
- Undeveloped island, beach and dune system, and/or tidal creek or inlet
- Eco-archaeological resources
4) Does the parcel have water resource features that are important for surface water and ground water management?
Examples include areas that provide flood protection, that improve or maintain water quality, that conserve water resources, that improve or preserve the water supply and/or that have high recharge potential to an aquifer.
5) Is the parcel contiguous to a protected environmentally sensitive land or water body?
Protected environmentally sensitive lands and waters include existing or proposed public and private conservation lands; mitigation banks; conservation easements; wildlife management areas and refuges; and sovereignty submerged lands.
6) Is there good potential for long term management of the property?
This criterion will be evaluated according to overall management potential including but not limited to access, compatibility with surrounding land uses, co-management opportunities, mitigation potential, potential for environmentally compatible recreational uses, and restoration needs.
7) Are the native plant communities or water resources on the property in any danger of being detrimentally altered?
Does the parcel have government approvals or zoning (such as an agricultural exemption, development order, or planned development zoning) that allows for immediate land clearing or land development that, if exercised, woulddiminish the natural resource benefits of the property? This criterion only applies if the natural plant communities and hydrology of the property are substantially in their natural condition.
A sample of the form used in the inital review can be seen here. |
