Collier to pay millions to buy land on Marco Island through conservation fund

Three properties on Marco Island will be purchased and preserved for threatened and endangered wildlife at a cost of $5.39 million from the Conservation Collier fund, the Board of County Commissioners decided Tuesday.

"We've authorized purchase of more Conservation Collier land in District 1 in the last few weeks than has been acquired in the last 20 years," Commission Chairman Rick LoCastro wrote in a newsletter Thursday. District 1 encompasses East Naples, Marco Island, Goodland, Isles of Capri and Port of the Islands.

Burrowing owls, gopher tortoises and bald eagles live on the lands Conservation Collier recommended be purchased. The parcels also provide refuge for migratory warblers and other wildlife.Conservation Collier, established by the BOCC in 2003, oversees and makes recommendations for acquiring properties with high natural resource value, and then maintains them. Collier County has collected more than $60 million for the program in the past two years through a special tax levy approved by votes in 2020.

"The $5,387,500 spent on the six parcels totaling 3.22 acres represents the largest preservation land acquisition in Marco Island history," Marco Island Assistant City Manager Casey Lucius said in an email.

What properties were considered?

The Conservation Collier Land Acquisition Advisory Committee recommended the purchase of four properties for $6.55 million. The three approved properties are:

• Annecy Marco LLC    181, 191, 201, 221 S. Barfield Dr.           2.13 acres        $3,140,000

• South Terra Corp.       1125 Caxambas Drive, Marco Island         0.56 acres        $1,620,000

• Diane G Chestnut       660 Inlet Drive, Marco Island                   0.53 acres        $627,500

Closings typically occur within 30 days of the approval of the purchase agreement, LoCastro wrote.

Commissioners rejected the purchase of 0.63 acres at 1929 Indian Hill St. – Agua Colina LLC – for $1.12 million.

Rejected properties

"The fourth lot actually has historical human remains on it," LoCastro wrote. "So not the best candidate to spend taxpayers' money on since it's virtually 'unbuildable'… and should continue to stay preserved on its own."

In July, commissioners rejected another Marco Island property for a second time after Marco City Council offered to put up some of the money. The property – 0.39 acres on Inlet Road on Marco Island – also is home to burrowing owls and gopher tortoises – both on Florida’s official Endangered and Threatened Species list. The gopher tortoise also is on the federal list.

Commissioners rejected the property first in April and then let it die for lack of a second on LoCastro's motion in July, with one commissioner saying he didn't like the seller's unwillingness to negotiate price.

Conservation Collier has been under scrutiny, with commissioners saying the advisory board isn't doing enough. Commissioners in October formalized their right to use taxpayer money collected for the program for other purposes. The change to the county ordinance governing Conservation Collier came after commissioners redirected money from Conservation Collier to the county's operating budgets, to completely offset tax cuts this year.

"Having collected (sixty-plus million dollars) over the last two years, but only spending $5 million … I don't believe that's what taxpayers thought was happening with that program they voted for," LoCastro wrote.  "What Commissioners directed on Sept. 21st sent a strong signal to the Conservation Collier team … they have to do more than just collect taxes and pile it up in a bank account.  That’s not the intent of the program."

Recently: Telling voters no: Commissioners formalize 'right' to divert Conservation Collier money

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Conservation Collier to spend $5.4 million to buy Marco Island lands