[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6266476,"mediaKeyId","3087117-f27fef8f78592d001f8261ca33926ea2","parentId",3087117,"title","Board approves February Conservation Collier list after debate over $2.5 million Lucarelli parcel in urban area","audioSeconds",890,"startMs",921000,"endMs",1811000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3087117-f27fef8f78592d001f8261ca33926ea2&start=921&end=1811","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3087117-f27fef8f78592d001f8261ca33926ea2/thumbnail_921000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6266476/Collier-County/Florida/Board-approves-February-Conservation-Collier-list-after-debate-over-25-million-Lucarelli-parcel-in-urban-area","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6266476-31115b3a3188e6385ce90f1f87d39843/orig.mp4?Expires=1771183850&Signature=mNHEa0wPG5mSqDx6I4ZFR7Yu0z4eafT0ecoyk1gWETj2HU35cWgDf54CnYQ5bhCwV8vewW0F~FYcg6s~1gGKlD1eYFtmh3gCZe1ewsBbSapuaJn0osUrI8Xryue4seB-pOieMxDAQSOWdFqg~t3XhmsENmxNg9F-g3dUNnlPsx6V6xQlO60kIT-nJOgyl5vy3SGQelcLzIfJn3WZRqdcLlp11L8kYo1Dh84IKqZpa3CqF1wtvDv-bQcS0B9G4TDvzUCFS1hTz8fZLkakA43FmsjT1ce05wzA8h9Q4WoXu3KLsKImN~mGkPdYPKBvD57NHqfShbESj~eqWoWORHwVug__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Collier County","date","2025-04-23T00:00:00Z","article","The Collier County Board of County Commissioners approved the February 2025 Conservation Collier active acquisition list and directed staff to pursue appraisals and due diligence on the recommended A-category projects, including a contested five-acre parcel nominated by the owner, commissioners said (meeting date not specified).

An earlier motion to approve the list while excluding the single contested parcel — known in staff materials as the Lucarelli property — failed on a 2–3 vote. After further discussion and public comment, the board approved the full list by a subsequent motion; staff will proceed with appraisals and negotiations.

Commissioner Hall led the objection to including the Lucarelli parcel, saying the site is a roughly five-acre wooded lot in an urbanized pocket (identified by staff as near Livingston and Immokalee roads and part of Willoughby Acres/Palm River area) and that he did not see conservation value sufficient to justify an estimated $2.5 million purchase price. Hall noted a longstanding code enforcement case concerning exotic vegetation on the property dating to 2018 and said the owner has explored subdivision and development options. Jamie French, Growth Management department head, told commissioners the property had appeared before the special magistrate multiple times and that the owner had requested continuances; French advised that if the county purchased the parcel before the code case was resolved, the code obligations would transfer to the county.

Brad Cornell of Audubon Western Everglades acknowledged the parcel’s urban context but urged the county to consider the property’s role in stormwater storage and nature-based solutions, arguing restored wetlands can attenuate floodwater and cleanse runoff. Commissioners also debated whether the parcel sits within the Palm River watershed and whether it contributed to ponding during past hurricane events; staff said the site is in an area subject to ponding (AH floodplain for ponding) rather than coastal surge.

Throughout the discussion commissioners raised these options: (1) exclude the parcel from the A list and leave it off the active pursuit list; (2) place the parcel on the B list to re-evaluate within a year (noting the risk it could be sold in the interim); or (3) proceed now with appraisals and make any future offer contingent on the owner resolving code enforcement or accepting negotiation terms that assign remediation responsibility. Several commissioners said they would expect “aggressive negotiation” if staff were to pursue a purchase.

The board’s approval authorizes only appraisals and due diligence; no purchase price was established and any sale would return to the board for final action. Staff recommended, and commissioners accepted, that if negotiations proceed the county seek terms that address the outstanding code case and exotic vegetation removal before closing or that require the owner to resolve the issues as a condition of sale.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of County Commissioners - Regular Meeting/Afternoon Session (4-22-2025)","oneSentenceSummary","Commissioners approved the February 2025 Conservation Collier active acquisition list and directed staff to pursue appraisals and due diligence, including a contested five-acre Lucarelli parcel surrounded by urban development; an earlier motion to exclude that parcel failed 2–3.","taxTitle","Collier County, Florida","taxId",12758,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6266481,"Collier commissioners direct staff to pursue appraisals on two conservation parcels from January list",804,92000,896000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3087117-f27fef8f78592d001f8261ca33926ea2&start=92&end=896","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3087117-f27fef8f78592d001f8261ca33926ea2/thumbnail_92000.jpg","/articles/6266481/Collier-County/Florida/Collier-commissioners-direct-staff-to-pursue-appraisals-on-two-conservation-parcels-from-January-list","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6266481-e2f1c686631ee3ea216834e3c824e3d9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771183850&Signature=MxiDHUatiXCtiZecBaRAo2~hk~r1~TZsIbev4eKiPoBmPwfwFFg-OiIcKAwlutCrNsSWOpqI6jgmzVbrSGYj~6VvMSq6Lb2qcrVs6fsMZMXVSTsHDwsqX5TefGu9ybPZg38bAK29r4D7-GaUOjGXsOlRRoqEpiLEEwWiQF5YlatCHmNG5-Xn9hXJUJDz9yHUaRUgOTVZeK0eGKkvkVIR2h-wk1kuZNaqOHA0VA32G2673n3psqYSAiLAIpCcMaG9eGG82thNkPKDiDSD7OUEIfl5Q9MO9lDDIN8AHSpnqxmIyHaawSNCt4o1EQEXs5DHftO1uJkxITez0-KzMQc3aA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Collier County Board of County Commissioners voted to direct staff to pursue appraisals and the usual due diligence on two properties recommended in the January 2025 Conservation Collier active acquisition list, commissioners said during a regularly scheduled meeting (meeting date not specified).

The two parcels — collectively about 85 acres — were recommended for acquisition by the Conservation Collier Land Advisory Committee (CLAC). Staff estimated the combined market value at just under $500,000 and initial maintenance costs at roughly $100,000. The board approved the motion 4-1.

The larger site, identified as the Edwards Trust properties, is nine parcels totaling 65 acres. Staff said the tract includes wetlands and upland habitats, expands existing conservation lands eastward toward Picayune Strand State Forest and westward toward Hacienda Lakes and San Marino PUD conservation lands, and is used by red-cockaded woodpecker and Florida panther. The parcels lie within the Benfield Road extension study area and currently lack vehicle access; existing access would require crossing adjacent private parcels. Proposed management activities include cabbage palm thinning and exotic species removal.

The second recommended parcel, described in staff materials as Golden Land Partners, is about 20 acres of primarily wetlands and likewise expands nearby conservation lands. Staff said the first two transferable development rights (TDRs) for that parcel have already been stripped, meaning the property presently does not allow development under the TDR program; the third and fourth TDRs could be made available only if a restoration and maintenance plan were completed and the land conveyed in fee simple to a government or other qualifying agency.

A third parcel shown on the January list was placed on the C list and is not recommended for acquisition. Staff described that site as roughly one-third of an acre of disturbed mangrove adjacent to the Gordon River Greenway with limited access, historical debris dumping that would require cleanup, and an owner who declined to perform remediation; staff also said the owner currently holds permits to build a single-family home on that property.

Brad Cornell of Audubon Western Everglades told commissioners his organization strongly supported the staff and CLAC recommendations, noting the Jan. list parcels complement the Picayune Strand restoration area and provide watershed and wildlife benefits. Commissioner Hall had questioned whether the county should spend Conservation Collier funds on landlocked parcels with no public access; other commissioners and staff said acquisition would allow formal restoration and ongoing land management while preserving TDRs as a county asset if the county elected to pursue them.

Staff recommended — and commissioners approved — that Conservation Collier proceed with appraisals and standard due-diligence periods for the two A-category properties; no purchase price was set by the vote. Staff also noted that program rules and the county’s purchasing policy currently differ on whether owners must strip TDRs prior to sale, and that additional amendments to the growth management plan and purchasing policy remain necessary to clarify how Conservation Collier and the county may receive and sell TDR credits.

If negotiations proceed, any future purchase would return to the board for final approval.

","The board voted to authorize appraisals and due diligence on two properties recommended on the January 2025 Conservation Collier active acquisition list, citing habitat connectivity and restoration needs; one small mangrove parcel on the C list will not be pursued.","actionData","errors"]

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Board approves February Conservation Collier list after debate over $2.5 million Lucarelli parcel in urban area

Collier commissioners direct staff to pursue appraisals on two conservation parcels from January list