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County sidesteps debate on city's land purchase
By JOHN BALZ, Times Staff Writer
TAMPA PALMS -- The citizens group for Hillsborough County's environmental agency will stay out of the debate over the city's purchase of conservation land in Tampa Palms. Following the advice of the Environmental Protection Commission's attorney, the Citizens Environmental Advisory Committee decided Monday not to weigh in on the city's recent purchase of 68 acres of upland habitat from a company called Ecopalms. Tampa's City Council approved the $428,000 purchase in November, intending to convert the land into conservation space. Those lands originally were under the county's purview. City officials have argued the land is open to future development, but some residents thought the land was already protected. According to EPC attorney Rick Tschantz, because the city is purchasing the land from a willing owner whose property is within the city limits, there's no reason for the county to step in the middle of the deal. "I don't see the hook for EPC to get involved," Tschantz said. If a Tampa resident or a local activist group tries to turn back the city's deal, Tschantz said, the county might have a reason to take an official position on the level of protection awarded to the Ecopalms land. More than a decade ago, Ecopalms bought almost 1,400 acres from Tampa Palms developer Kenneth Good for $12,000. The company tried unsuccessfully to sell the land and property taxes mounted. In order to complete the sale with the city, Ecopalms had to pay off back taxes of more than $125,000, which it did last month. Ecopalms still owes the county about $177,000 on its other properties. -- John Balz can be reached at (813) 269-5313 or at balz@sptimes.com
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