Martin County Surpasses $20M in Eco-Land Buys, Nears 1,000 Acres

Martin County's environmental land acquisition program has collected more than $20 million in sales tax revenue and secured nearly 1,000 acres in fee simple ownership, the Environmental Lands Oversight Committee reported Tuesday.

Nearly all collected revenue has been committed to projects for county taxpayers and property owners. Closings are scheduled 120 to 180 days out to align with available funding, officials said. Committee members expressed satisfaction with overall progress but pressed staff to accelerate purchases given the pace of revenue allocation.

The committee's review highlighted the 1,699-acre Barbie Ranch conservation easement as a signature achievement. The county acquired the easement for $17 million, with the state contributing $12 million and Martin County covering $5 million, according to public records. A celebration event is scheduled for April 17 at Timer Powers Park to mark the milestone.

Active acquisitions totaling close to 400 acres remain under contract, including the 315-acre Elise J property at $3.4 million and a recently closed 32-acre parcel at Point Sienna Gardens for approximately $3 million, according to county records.

Staff presented eight new properties for potential nomination, but three immediately raised legal concerns. The Wallpole property and Hawk Hammock Edition properties may fall outside the program's four designated acquisition zones — specifically the Indian River Lagoon South project boundaries — under current ordinance language. Committee members requested a legal review before those nominations advance.

The committee also reviewed three properties totaling nearly 800 acres proposed for conservation easements through the state's Rural and Family Lands Protection Program. Under this arrangement, the county would contribute less than 50 percent of acquisition costs.

A legal review of the disputed properties is the next formal step before the committee can act on nominations for the Wallpole and Hawk Hammock Edition parcels.

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