By Diana Moskovitz staff writer
August 26, 2004

FORT PIERCE — The county's cash-strapped land preservation program could get a $7.35 million infusion.

A proposal to issue $7.35 million in bonds benefiting the environmentally significant lands program is being crafted and will go before the County Commission in coming months, County Administrator Doug Anderson said.

If approved, the money would help buy undeveloped land for hiking, camping and other passive recreation — including two parcels commissioners put on a wish list during a workshop Wednesday.

Escalating land prices are adding urgency to the push to buy land now. Anderson said the price of county land goes up 10 percent every month.

Landowners also know they can get more money selling to developers. When county staff pursued a list of properties earlier this year, few owners responded.

"We can't wait another year, two years while we work out bigger schemes," Commissioner Cliff Barnes said.

What money is left from $20 million in bonds that funded the program 10 years ago is committed to ongoing projects.

For now, county staff will focus on buying 20 acres along U.S. 1 just north of Indrio Road and 150 acres near Paleo Hammock by Carlton Road.

Those two purchases alone could cost more than $3 million, more than what the land account has available. But the county might be able to get some help from grants promoting environmental preservation.

"We'll have to work out the details later," said Steve Fousek, county environmental lands specialist.

- diana.moskovitz@scripps.com

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