Betting the farm on Pirates Cove

Happy Monday! Let’s start the week with two of my favorite subjects:

Pirates Cove.

Betz Farm.

They are miles apart geographically but linked politically. As one goes, so goes the other.

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The County Commission has Pirates Cove on its plate Tuesday. Commissioner Jeff Kinnard, who has long pushed the Pirates Cove purchase, is recommending a letter of intent with the owners that gives the county time to “raise the necessary capital funds” to buy the property.

The price is $1.8 million, which is odd considering the appraisals came in around $1 million and it’s always my belief the government never pays more than the appraisal. So, looking forward to hearing how that works.

Not on the agenda Tuesday, or anytime soon, is the Betz Farm development. I see a county notice alongside the property announcing a planned unit development application. I’m sure it’s full of development bells and whistles, the likes of which we haven’t seen around these parts for at least a week.

Now. The Just Wright Citrus editorial opinion on both of these properties has been consistent and clear. Yes, on buying Pirates Cove. No on selling Betz Farm.

There’s a broader implication. As we move into the One for All sales-tax conversation, voters will want to see consistency from the County Commission. Pick a path and stick with it.

Here’s what I mean.

I have very basic reasons for wanting to buy Pirates Cove and keep Betz Farm. Pirates Cove sits on a splendid point at the St. Martins Marsh Aquatic Preserve. The county boat ramp is right there. 

The 3-acre private property is divided into nine lots: eight for homes and one is commercial. So, based on what we have today, we’re not looking at the nightmare condo projects of the past. If the county doesn’t get Pirates Cove, it’s a few houses and a store or restaurant.

But in a county where the dirt is quickly disappearing, it seems logical to have more public access to waterfront property, not less. 

As for Betz Farm, same argument. A developer wants to buy the 350 acres to build a thousand-plus homes. He’s ready to write a check for $6 million, so long as commissioners approve his plans beforehand.

Again, logic suggests we should hold on to that property on Turkey Oak for public purposes. I’ve heard a few ideas tossed around lately and I’m sure there will be more as the One for All community discussions start occurring.

I will suggest this: As the board goes with one, it should go with the other.

If commissioners truly believe that whole “where nature and community thrive” thing, this is their litmus test.

We either want to protect property from development, or we don’t. Six expensive homes and a restaurant on the water on Ozello will fetch a pretty tax penny, the same as a thousand homes on Turkey Oak.

So, if it’s tax money we want, these both are no-brainers. Pirates Cove in private hands is worth much more to the bottom line than in public hands. Same for Betz Farm.

On the other hand, citizens are going crazy over development. They want it stopped yesterday. A county commissioner who approves more houses than is now on the books is asking for trouble.

Other than the cool $6 million coming for Betz Farm, I can’t think of a single reason why commissioners would purposely add 1,000 homes to the registry.

It makes much better sense for commissioners to determine first if Betz Farm has a public purpose. The county declared this property surplus four years ago when life was much different than it is today.

Voters have a million concerns about a penny sales tax. They wonder if county commissioners can be trusted to make the right choices with their money. That’s understandable.

Well, trust starts with consistency. Both Betz Farm and Pirates Cove represent significant pieces of property that have the potential for strategic public uses. Or, they can simply build homes and pay taxes.

Pick a side.

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