STUART — Voters here still might get to decide between conserving 2 acres or leasing them to a business to help pay for maintenance of the 157-acre Haney Creek Park Nature Trails and Dog Park.
“I’m asking for us to move it forward, to get it onto the ballot and let the citizens decide,” Commissioner Laura Giobbi said. “I don’t know why we’re taking that decision away from them.”
But following a delay in May, city commissioners Monday voted 3-1 — with Commissioner Campbel Rich dissenting — to consider a resolution Aug. 17 that would give voters the choice over what to do with those 2 acres.
A pending deadline
Commissioners need to make a decision Aug. 17 to give voters the choice in the Nov. 3 general election. The wording that goes on the November ballot must be sent to the Martin County Supervisor of Elections Office by Aug. 21.
Otherwise, it could cost the city from $13,000 to $16,000 to hold a special election.
So, residents have a chance Aug. 17 — at a special City Commission meeting — to tell commissioners whether they want to vote on the matter Nov. 3. The two acres are located at 1001 Northwest Federal Highway, across from Northwest River Shores Boulevard.
A wise decision?
“I don’t think it’s prudent to move forward at this time,” Rich told his colleagues, because of the chance Florida voters will pass property tax reform Nov. 3.
If property tax reform passes in November, “this city and most municipalities will be desperate for diverse forms of revenue,” Rich said, and the first funding to be cut will be for parks.
The city is going to maintain funding for police and fire rescue, he said.
“When municipal budgets are stressed, parks suffer,” Rich said.
He estimates leasing the 2 acres to a business would bring in about $1 million over 10 years.
“And I do not want to deny the taxpayer the opportunity to earn that money,” he said. “That’s a million dollars to take care of and improve this preserve, which is a fantastic piece of property.”
Rich was referring to Haney Creek Park Nature Trails and Dog Park, which is a preserve that “protects rare Florida habitats including coastal scrubland, pine flatwoods, wetlands, and wet prairie,” Jim Chrulski, community services director for Stuart, told commissioners.
The preserve opened in 2016, he said.
“Today, visitors enjoy 4.4 miles of trails, a dog park, picnic areas, and a nature observation opportunity, Chrulski said.
More green space needed?
Additionally, Giobbi argued, “We need to acquire as much green space as possible.”
The city has lost green space as more development occurred, she said.
But Chrulski said, the city has 731 acres or 10 times the amount of managed and unmanaged green space the city’s growth management plan requires.
“I mean, we’re talking about adding ⅓ of 1% of all the green space the city has,” Rich said.
Keith Burbank is TCPalm’s watchdog reporter covering Martin County. He can be reached at keith.burbank@tcpalm.com.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Fate of Florida park land might be up to voters
Reporting by Keith Burbank, Treasure Coast Newspapers / Treasure Coast Newspapers
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By Keith Burbank, Treasure Coast Newspapers | USA TODAY Network
