By Betty Parker
Fort Myers News-Press
04/04/08

TALLAHASSEE –– A plan to help save family farms while staving off development received a favorable response in a Senate hearing Thursday, but the sponsor withdrew the proposal for more debate in a later committee.

Environmentalists, agriculture, and business interests praised the idea of Sen. Burt Saunders, R-Naples, who is shepherding, through committees, the bill on the future of Florida Forever. That's the state program that buys land for preservation.

Saunders suggested using as much as 10 percent of the Florida Forever cash to buy development rights on small farms. That would allow the farms to stay on tax rolls, and be managed, while preventing development on that relatively open land.

He expected controversy, but the idea won nearly unanimous early approval.
Audubon lobbyist Eric Draper said another benefit was to preserve wildlife habitat, as the lands in question are often used for improved pastures or trees being grown for forestry purposes.
There was some debate, however, about whether 10 percent is appropriate.

Saunders said the idea, including the funding level, is relatively new, and he thought it would be good to take more time to talk with the interests involved before the matter gets to the appropriations committee, which deals with money matters. "We have time to discuss it," Saunders said, "I really just wanted to put it out there and see what kind of reception it got."
Although the House has not provided any money for Florida Forever in its preliminary budgets, Saunders said the Senate put $300 million in the program, and he's confident it will be funded at some level.
 

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