The real estate developer now under contract to buy the Babcock Ranch continues to meet with parties interested in preserving the 91,000- acre property. CEO Syd Kitson was unavailable for comment today/Thursday. But a Kitson & Partners spokeswoman says Kitson has contacted Lee and Charlotte County commissioners and environmental groups—including The Babcock Preservation Partnership & the Conservancy of Southwest Florida. Spokeswoman April Herrle says Kitson also spoke briefly with Department of Environmental Protection secretary, Colleen Castille… about selling a portion of the land to the state.

“We know that this property is extremely important to the local community and the state as a whole… and that the state has a great interest in purchasing the property. So we are moving forward with those initial discussions to let the state know that, yes, we are interested in selling a large portion of that land to the state.”

Herrle wouldn’t elaborate on exactly what “a large portion” means. The state isn’t the only party interested in buying the land for preservation. Lee and Charlotte Counties as well as the non-profit Babcock Preservation Partnership might also chip in.