November 10, 2016
West Palm Beach, FL – At its monthly meeting today, South 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."