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A piece of natural Florida preserved

By TIMES EDITORIALS
Published August 2, 2006

The largest single conservation land purchase in Florida history is a done deal and the state's environmental future is a little brighter because of it. Most of the historic Babcock Ranch in Southwest Florida now belongs to the public - and to the wildlife that needs it for survival. Five years in the making and delayed by a last-minute legal challenge, the $350-million purchase agreement was completed Monday.

With the 74,000 acres, the state now owns a natural corridor that stretches from Lake Okeechobee nearly to the gulf. Most of the newly purchased land will remain as is, including the working cattle ranch. It is strategic habitat for the Florida panther and other important species and plays a key role in maintaining the area's water quality.

As part of the agreement, a planned community will be built on the ranch's remaining 15,000 acres. Developer Syd Kitson sold the bulk of the ranch to the state in exchange for permission to build 19,000 homes plus office and commercial space on his portion. That almost sank the deal.

Saying a development of that size would lead to urban sprawl in an environmentally sensitive area, the Sierra Club filed suit to stop it. That aggressive stance angered some environmentalists, who felt it threatened the purchase. Recently, the Sierra Club and Kitson reached a compromise, allowing the sale to go through.

The Sierra Club never intended to scuttle the deal, said Frank Jackalone, the group's senior regional representative. In fact, the settlement made the deal a little better. The developer agreed to drop plans for another 1,600 homes, to limit the impact of the new community on the environment and roads and to set high energy-efficiency standards for the new homes.

It would have been nice if the state had bought the entire ranch, but it didn't work out that way. Such agreements in a place growing as rapidly as Florida are going to be difficult and involve some trade-offs. This one is worth it.

Another important piece of natural Florida has been preserved. Let's enjoy it and vow it won't be the last.

[Last modified August 2, 2006, 01:21:01]