The Flagler County government and three state agencies are attempting to purchase 35 acres of JDI land in a combined purchase arranged by the North Florida Land Trust, as Atlanta-based developer Jim Jacoby of JDI Marineland is seeking to sell properties in Marineland.
In 2020, unsuccessful attempts were made to purchase the area by Flagler County, the University of Florida, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Jacoby was the one who approached the Land Trust to reopen the dialogue more recently. The cost, which has not yet been determined, would be divided among the four entities. The necessary appraisals are being carried out by the county.
Due to its mixed-use zone, the property may be developed for residential or commercial purposes, or both. There have been long-standing suspicions and conjectures that JDI would develop the area and change Marineland’s personality. Although it is unknown if the University of Florida’s Whitney Laboratory for Marine Science would use its piece of the land for conservation or growth of its operations there, the acquisitions would shield around 35 acres from development right next to a wildlife corridor.
According to Andy Dance, chair of the County Commission, “many partners are working together to preserve this area, and it has many historic and ecological qualities for preservation.” We can work together on it, as evidenced by the fact that we were able to unite all the agencies under the North Florida Land Trust. The foursome of partners would include Florida Forever.
The land sale would relieve JDI of all but one parcel in Marineland, a 76,000-square-foot parcel on the ocean, according to the most recent mapping.
The land that Flagler County would purchase would include town-owned and operated land up to the Marineland Marina and land along the Intracoastal Waterway, including: With its acting mayor, Dewey Dew, recently enacting dubious legal measures to keep its town commission operating, Marineland has been on the verge of political, if not yet financial, insolvency. (See: A Disgusting Town Meeting in Marineland as Concerns Regard the Lawfulness of the Mayor’s Irrevocable Appointment of a Commissioner.)
The town’s main source of income, Dolphin Adventure in Marineland, is in bankruptcy and up for sale, which isn’t helping. Dolphin Adventure properties are unrelated to the possible Land Trust acquisition. According to County Commissioner Leann Pennington, Flagler County would not pursue it. We should stay out of the dolphin industry.
The Jacoby plot was put on the county’s Land Acquisition Committee’s priority list, making it eligible to be purchased with county funds designated for environmentally sensitive land. Voters have consistently supported a tiny property tax levy in referendums to fund the purchase of properties that would be maintained for all time.
According to Penningon, this is precisely what the ESL is meant for. I believe that everyone in Flagler County wants to see this property kept intact. This is one of the ESL program’s gold standards, in my opinion.
The state of a 51-year-old JDI sewer facility on a piece of property that would be acquired by Flagler County has been a major obstacle for Whitney Lab. Although it is in use, it is not being maintained.
The sewer plant would become county property if Flagler County participated in the purchase. It is obvious that JDI wants to delegate that duty. Since it would essentially entail taking control of a shaky system that requires extensive repair—assuming it can be fixed—Flagler County is more hesitant to take it on.
As the county moves from septic to sewer around the barrier island, they would like to remove it once water and sewer pipes reach all the way to Marineland. As of right now, they continue up to Mala Compra Road. The availability of funds to extend the lines all the way to Marineland is uncertain. According to the county administration, purchasing the sewer plant might serve as a catalyst for additional state financing to cover that final extension.
In order to give the county options if it decides to buy the property, County Administrator Heidi Petito secured the support of the County Commission last Monday to have an engineering firm assess the state of the so-called package sewer plant. This way, “We know what we’re up against as far as whether or not we would look to remove the system, whether we need to rehab it, maybe build a master lift station, do an interconnect to Palm Coast, or whatever options are out there,” Petito said. I do not want us to return to the utility industry. It’s not at all like that. However, I believe it makes a lot of sense to remove the wastewater from the barrier island if we are to purchase the property.
A piecemeal approach to the sale is not something Jacoby is interested in, according to Pennington, the county commissioner. Everything or nothing. Although no sale price has been announced, Dance stated that ESL finances are now adequate to cover the county’s share.
Nobody wants to see housing developments built in the region. Therefore, it’s crucial if we can help, Pennington stated.
