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64,000-Acre Land Deal in the Works

FORT MYERS, FL-The Florida Forever Acquisition and Restoration Council has recommended the state purchase 10,000 acres of the Babcock Ranch and place another 34,000 acres under an environmental easement that would prevent future development. In return, the Babcock family would be allowed to develop 20,000 acres. Gov. Jeb Bush and the Florida Cabinet rule on the plan Jan. 29.

By Pat Taylor | Updated on December 26, 2001

FORT MYERS, FL-If approved by Florida’s governor and cabinet, a land deal would turn 64,000 acres of pristine cattle ranch land northeast of here into 20,000 acres of developed land and 44,000 acres of state-owned or environmentally protected land.

The land is part of the 91,361-acre Babcock Ranch, which sprawls across 81,499 acres of Charlotte County and 9,862 acres in Lee County and is one of the biggest pieces of privately owned property in southwest Florida. Last summer, the Babcock family offered to dedicate and sell about half of the ranch’s property holdings to the counties and state for conservation, in exchange for development rights on nearly 20,000 acres in Charlotte and Lee counties.

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