Subject:
Title
Approval, Re: Option Agreement for Sale and Purchase of Plan One, Inc. property through The Conservation Fund (District 3)
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Fiscal Impact:
The cost of this acquisition, $208,000.00, will be from Fund 3218, Cost Center 340241 of the Environmentally Endangered Lands (EEL) Program.
Dept/Office:
Parks and Recreation EELs Program
Requested Action:
Recommendation
It is requested that the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC):
1. approve the Assignment of Option for Sale and Purchase of the Plan One, Inc. property; and
2. authorize the Chairman to execute the Assignment of Option for Sale and Purchase upon approval of Risk Management and the County Attorney’s Office; and
3. authorize staff to exercise the Option for Sale and Purchase on or before September 16, 2026, upon approval of Risk Management and the County Attorney’s Office; and
4. authorize the County Manager to execute all necessary budget amendments (BCRs) or other administrative actions necessary to support this acquisition.
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Summary Explanation and Background:
The subject property is 2.11+/- acres located on Malabar Road in the Town of Malabar, directly adjacent to the EEL managed Malabar Scrub Sanctuary. The property is ranked as a high priority for acquisition by the EEL Selection and Management Committee. As described in the Board-approved EEL Land Acquisition Manual, the property contains habitats that represent Natural Community Groups A & B including scrub and scrubby pine flatwoods. The property is 100% uplands and within the Brevard Coastal Scrub Ecosystem State Florida Forever Project.
The Board approved Conservation Value Rubric was used to document the general conservation value of the property and it’s benefit to the Indian River Lagoon. Based on the available data, this property, if developed according to its current County Future Land Use Designation, would contribute an additional 5.2 pounds per year of Total Nitrogen to the Indian River Lagoon which would cost $2,987.34 to remove from the lagoon.
The acquisition of this property will allow the EEL Program to more effectively manage the Florida Scrub Jay population at the Malabar Scrub Sanctuary by creating the opportunity to improve the habitat conditions adjacent to the existing scrub jay territories for foraging and predator management. Malabar Scrub is considered a key property for the long-term protection of the Florida Scrub Jay in southern Brevard County.
EEL Selection and Management Committee reviewed and approved the Willing Seller Application submitted by the landowner at their regular monthly meeting on October 15, 2025.
One appraisal was completed on 12/15/25 by Pinel & Carpenter with an appraised value of $210,000. As per the Board-approved EEL Land Acquisition Manual, only one appraisal is required for properties valued at or below $500,000.
An Option Agreement for the purchase of the property was negotiated by The Conservation Fund’s land acquisition staff pursuant to the contract with Brevard County for land acquisition services. The purchase price is $208,000.00 (Two Hundred Eight Thousand and 00/100 dollars). This Option Agreement will be exercised during the period beginning with the County’s approval of the Assignment of Option Agreement and ending on August 17, 2026, unless extended by the terms of the Option Agreement.
Initial management costs will include the installation of fire control lines and boundary fencing which is estimated to cost $8,000. Ongoing annual maintenance costs are estimated at approximately $3,000.
Clerk to the Board Instructions:
None