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Ranch panel looks at options

By MIKE SALINERO

msalinero@tampatrib.com

Published: June 30, 2009

TAMPA - No decisions were made but lots of questions were asked Monday at the first meeting of an advisory panel charged with charting the future of Hillsborough County-owned Cone Ranch.

Several members of the panel asked for detailed reports on the environmental history of the 12,800-acre ranch, now controlled by county water department. Other members wanted to know more about a 700-acre area at the ranch The Nature Conservancy manages as a refuge for gopher tortoises displaced by development.

The county commission formed the advisory panel after a group of local investors proposed selling off most of the ranch in 2,000-acre parcels. The investors, calling themselves the Florida Conservation and Environmental Group, say the land would be protected after the sales by conservation agreements, and 800 acres would be reserved for a public park or preserve.

The proposal sparked a backlash from environmentalists who want the land purchased under the county's Environmental Lands Acquisition and Protection Program. The water department, which operates like a separate business, must get fair market value for the ranch.

Several members of the public asked the panel to put an ELAPP purchase plan ahead of the investors' proposal. They argued the land is too valuable as wildlife habitat and a water recharge area to be chopped up and sold to private owners.

"You wouldn't auction off the Liberty Bell to pay off debts," said Wesley Bailey of Thonotosassa. "There's nothing else like Cone Ranch left in the county."

But the seven-member panel is charged with evaluating all options, including leaving the ranch in the water department's hands.

"I think I'd like to see research done on all options," said member Felix Haynes.

The panel elected Heidi McCree as chairwoman and Rosanne Clementi as vice chairwoman. McCree is a lawyer and former chairwoman of the Southwest Florida Water Management District governing board. Clementi is president of Southeast Environmental Solutions in Plant City. The next meeting of will be July 20.

Reporter Mike Salinero can be reached at (813) 259-8303.

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