Santa Rosa County Launches Farmland Protection Program

Santa Rosa County, FL (Newsradio 92.3) -- Santa Rosa County is moving forward with an ambitious plan to permanently protect thousands of acres of agricultural land from development through a new conservation easement program.

The Legacy Land Protection Program received support from county commissioners at Monday's agenda conference and is expected to be approved Thursday. The initiative would allow landowners to voluntarily sell their development rights to the county while retaining ownership and continuing to use the land for farming, ranching, or timber production.

Jason Tritt with the county's Soil Conservation Department told commissioners the program already has approximately 10,000 acres in active applications and would need an estimated $50 million in funding to meet demand.

"This is not a total solution but a tool for farm families," Tritt said during his presentation. "The goal is to protect natural resources like soil, wildlife, water, open spaces, and scenic views."

Under the program, landowners would receive cash payments based on the appraised value of their development rights. The properties would remain privately owned, fully taxable, and available for agricultural use. However, deed restrictions prohibiting residential or commercial development would be permanently recorded and could never be reversed.

The county currently has $2 million allocated for the program, which can be used to match state and federal grants. Officials are considering a sales tax referendum to fund the full initiative.

Matching grant opportunities are available through the USDA Agricultural Conservation Easement Program, the Florida Department of Agriculture's Rural and Family Lands program (which currently has 14 applications), and the U.S. Navy's REPI program.

The program uses an annual signup period of 30 to 45 days, with applications ranked using standardized criteria similar to USDA's national system. The Blackwater Soil and Water Conservation District Board would review rankings before sending recommendations to county commissioners for final approval.

Tritt emphasized the program's goal is to slow urban sprawl and encourage growth in targeted urbanized areas, not to completely stop development or devalue property.

The Board of County Commissioners will vote on the program during their regular meeting Thursday at 8:30 a.m.