TALLAHASSEE, Florida — The Department of Environmental Protection is asking the Florida Cabinet for authority to pay a historically powerful landowner not to develop its property.
The proposed conservation easement of 10,996 acres from Barron Collier Partnership does not include a price, appraisals or describe what would be allowed to remain on the property. The Cabinet is scheduled to meet Wednesday to consider a variety of issues, including possible state land deals.
Gil Smart, executive director of VoteWater.org, said Monday the proposed deal “looks shady” but he could not comment without knowing more about it.
Eric Draper, a former state parks director and environmentalist, said Monday that Cabinet members increasingly are delegating major decisions over land deals to DEP.
