Betz Farm still a head-scratcher

Meanwhile, back on Betz Farm.

Boy that thing sorta fell off the radar, didn’t it? Well, there’s been a development that we should discuss.

A little perspective: Betz Farm, 350 acres on Turkey Oak across Crystal River High School, is county-owned land that never cost taxpayers a dime.

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It’s sat empty, wooded, and vacant since 2003 when the Tamposi family handed the deed to the county in exchange for impact-fee credits in Tierra Vista and other Citrus Hills developments, a deal that weighed heavily in the county’s favor.

The property received really no attention until the county decided a few years back to start unloading surplus land. At 350 acres, Betz Farm was the star attraction.

An issue from the start was whether the property was in condition for significant residential development. It had an approved plan for around 1,500 homes, but development regulations put in place the last 20 years would significantly reduce that number.

Commissioner Jeff Kinnard had an idea: The county should conduct the site-prep studies so that when it goes on the market, prospective buyers know exactly what’s there.

Personally, I thought the idea made sense. Betz Farm is somewhat of a mystery, and a report on what can and can’t occur there would be helpful for everyone. Kinnard’s colleagues at the time disagreed so the property went up for sale.

Immediately came the issues Kinnard had hoped to avoid. The first prospective purchaser requested several delays in the closing date because he was trying to nail down reports and permits.

Commissioners then put the property back on the market and now we have another prospective buyer who is trying to nail down the reports and permits before closing on a $6 million purchase price.

This buyer, Bravo Land Group manager James Dicks, wants assurances and he has it: The arrangement approved by commissioners last week says the deal won’t go down UNLESS commissioners approve his development plan FIRST.

Interesting.

Developers usually want the zoning in place before they buy property. If they buy and the zoning is denied, that’s big money down the drain.

No one knows it more than Bravo Land Group. Bravo bought the Pine Ridge Golf Course with plans on turning it into homesites. But it needed County Commission approval and didn’t get it — now Dicks is challenging that ruling.

He won’t have that problem with Betz Farm.

Under the contract addendum, if land-use “modifications” are required, “the seller will cooperate fully in the modification approval process.” The purchase is “specifically contingent” on the buyer receiving land-use modifications to allow the buyer’s intended use.”

Translation: Bravo will apply for a planned unit development at Betz Farm, and commissioners will approve it. Or no sale.

The government geek looks at this arrangement and shakes its head, wondering how commissioners could possibly see it as being in the public’s best interest.

Am I reading this wrong? Developer gets the PUD he wants and gives the county $6 million. Or, he doesn’t get the zoning and keeps his $6 million, and the county keeps the property only to later dance with another buyer. Isn’t Bravo essentially buying a land-use decision along with the property? Kind of a two-fer.

It seems to circumvent the public hearing process. Betz Farm wouldn't be just another land-use case. A no vote means a closed wallet to property that commissioners desperately wanting to unload. Tell me it won’t play in their decision.

We haven’t even discussed the sale proceeds. Everyone assumes it’s for a new animal shelter, but the county administrator told me months ago that was no longer the case. I have some out-of-the-box ideas that I’ll get into another day.

Betz Farm is low-hanging fruit that the county would just as soon be done with. 

Not yet, commissioners, not yet.

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