TALLAHASSEE, Florida — Gov. Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet signed off Wednesday on a deal with a politically powerful landowner — with few disclosed details, including the price.
Details: The Republican governor and Cabinet voted unanimously and without discussion to delegate authority to the Department of Environmental Protection to purchase a conservation easement on nearly 11,000 acres from Barron Collier Partnership.
The proposal does not include a price for the property, appraisals or any description of what activities will be allowed on the land. DEP said earlier this week oil and gas mineral rights will be surrendered by the landowner.
DEP is facing scrutiny after a series of controversial land deals, including the purchase of a 4-acre beachfront parcel in Destin for $83 million without a state appraisal.
