TO: Honorable Mayor & Members of the North Port Commission
FROM: Peter D. Lear, CPA, CGMA, Interim City Manager
TITLE: Update on the protection of Orange Hammock Ranch
Recommended Action
None
Background Information
The 5,744-acre Orange Hammock Ranch (OHR) is located in the southeastern area of Sarasota County (County), east of I-75 and adjacent to the City of North Port (City). The property, formerly known as Isles of Athena and the McCall Tract, is currently owned by Orange Hammock Ranch LLC (Attachment 1).
On June 30, 2014, the Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast (CFGC) submitted a Florida Forever project proposal to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Florida Forever is Florida's premier conservation and recreation lands acquisition program. The proposal, titled Myakka Island Conservation Corridor, includes OHR, and was reviewed and ranked by the State's Acquisition and Restoration Council (ARC). The project was ranked 5th on the Florida Forever Priority List under the Less-Than-Fee Projects category. No funding was received.
On January 26, 2016, the County Commission sent a letter of support to Christine Johnson of the CFGC. The letter also noted that the Environmentally Sensitive Lands Oversight Committee (ESLOC) recommended the acquisition of the property on October 7, 2010 (Attachment 2).
On July 15, 2016, Sarasota County Administration and staff met with representatives from the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) to discuss the potential acquisition, use and management of OHR. Discussions included both agencies' desire to acquire the property in partnership with others.
On July 19, 2016, CFGC hosted a "kick-off" meeting to explore opportunities to purchase OHR. In attendance were representatives from CFGC, Sarasota County, SWFWMD, the City of North Port, Peace River Manasota Regional Water Supply Authority, and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. During the meeting, the history of the prop...
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