Daddy Dave
Well-known member
Kissimmee River Valley Sportsman's Association (KRVSA) spent $5,000 of club funds for legal representation in an attempt to find grounds to block the proposed trade of Shady Oaks property, including having legal representation at West Palm Beach yesterday. KRVSA President Danny Brantley, FAA Vice President Bob Hoover, KRVSA legal representation and Dave Markett spoke in opposition to the trade.
To no avail. The District had crafted a real estate deal with POMCOR, Inc. that accrued a net gain of millions of dollars in the District's favor based on their figures.
SFWMD traded away 2,400 acres of waterfront Lake Kissimmee high and dry ground with no conservation easement or deeded public access for about 4,700 acres of wetlands in Glades County that will serve as a stormwater treatment area (STA) and an 18 acre waterfront site in Martin County.
STAs allow non motorized public access including duck hunting (Newton Cook, Waterfowl Unlimited - Florida and Byron Maharey - Everglades Coordinating Council praised the deal) but do not allow any public motorized access (no airboats and / or swamp buggies).
The vote in favor of the staff recommended trade was unanimous and District Governors praised Ruth Clement, SFWMD lands division lawyer, for crafting such a phenomenal deal in favor of the long term goals of SFWMD.
In exchange, SFWMD orally agreed to cut out about 122 acres of the Shady Oaks property including the old marina site with existing launch ramp as a new public park with Polk County to be the park's manager. SFWMD officials promised separate motor vessel and airboat launch facilities, picnic areas and improved parking. SFWMD also promised another airboat launch site would be immediately developed on adjoining existing Florida Division of Forestry lands at Otter Slough with FDOF managing and maintaining that public access facility.
To no avail. The District had crafted a real estate deal with POMCOR, Inc. that accrued a net gain of millions of dollars in the District's favor based on their figures.
SFWMD traded away 2,400 acres of waterfront Lake Kissimmee high and dry ground with no conservation easement or deeded public access for about 4,700 acres of wetlands in Glades County that will serve as a stormwater treatment area (STA) and an 18 acre waterfront site in Martin County.
STAs allow non motorized public access including duck hunting (Newton Cook, Waterfowl Unlimited - Florida and Byron Maharey - Everglades Coordinating Council praised the deal) but do not allow any public motorized access (no airboats and / or swamp buggies).
The vote in favor of the staff recommended trade was unanimous and District Governors praised Ruth Clement, SFWMD lands division lawyer, for crafting such a phenomenal deal in favor of the long term goals of SFWMD.
In exchange, SFWMD orally agreed to cut out about 122 acres of the Shady Oaks property including the old marina site with existing launch ramp as a new public park with Polk County to be the park's manager. SFWMD officials promised separate motor vessel and airboat launch facilities, picnic areas and improved parking. SFWMD also promised another airboat launch site would be immediately developed on adjoining existing Florida Division of Forestry lands at Otter Slough with FDOF managing and maintaining that public access facility.
