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Suncoast Pinellas News

Dunedin OKs Land Deal But Can Back Out

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By Mark  Schantz | The Suncoast News

Published: February 8, 2008

DUNEDIN, Fla. - DUNEDIN, Fla. - The City Commission had more concerns than enthusiasm Thursday night for the details surrounding a Florida Communities Trust grant the city could use to buy coastal land north of downtown.

Despite those misgivings, commissioners approved the contract the city would have to sign before it could receive the money from the FCT.

That approval, however, does not require the city to accept the FCT grant money or use it to pay part of the cost of buying the 6 acres of land on either side of Alt. 19, north of downtown, City Manager Rob DiSpirito stressed.

The land is owned by businessman and Country music singer-songwriter J.C. Weaver.

Commissioner Dave Eggers said he was only voting to approve the contract with the FCT to trigger new appraisals of the Weaver land, which lies between St. Joseph Sound and the Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail.

The amount of money the city could get from the FCT will depend on the appraisals. Those appraisals will not be available until March or April.

Weaver has asked $18 million for the land. City officials, however, think the depressed Florida real estate market has significantly lowered the value of the land.
In November of last year, for example, Mayor Bob Hackworth said he thinks the land now is worth closer to $5 million.

In applying for the grant, city staff agreed to a number of stipulations commissioners were questioning Thursday night. The stipulations were intended to raise the city's chances of being qualified for the grant in the eyes of FCT officials.

Commissioner Deborah Kynes noted the grant contract contains additional costs the city will have to bear if it purchases the property.

In its application the city agreed to install a playground, fishing dock, canoe launch, wildlife observation platform, restrooms and interpretive signs on the Weaver land if it accepts FCT grant money.

The city also agreed to provide at least 12 educational programs or classes on site and conduct periodic surveys of wildlife listed on the grant application.
The city will also have to install a traffic control signal to provide a safe route for pedestrians to cross Alt. 19.

Those amenities could cost from $400,000 to $500,000, DiSpirito said.

Commissioner Julie Scales was the lone dissenter when the rest of the commission approved the contract in order to trigger the new appraisals.
Purchasing the property will be a complicated process, DiSpirito said before the meeting.

The FCT would initially provide funds to help the city buy the north part of the Weaver property. The city would have to apply again for money to buy the southern half next year.

The city's agreement with Weaver would have to take that two-step grant process into account, the city manager said.

The contract approved Thursday night allows the FCT to get two appraisals on the northern half of the property, the cost of which would be paid out of the grant funds.

The city would have to pay for the cost of the appraisals on the southern half, the city manager noted.

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