Following the announcement a real estate developer is buying the Babcock Ranch… activists continue their calls for its preservation. In a letter today/Friday, the Babcock Preservation Partnership encouraged its members and supporters to contact local and state lawmakers.

Real estate developer Kitson & Partners is under contract to buy the 91-thousand acre property. CEO Syd Kitson has said his company wants to set aside “a large portion of the land for preservation.” That might include selling land to the state or counties. Kitson reiterated that goal during a conversation with Liz Donley of the Babcock Preservation Partnership. Donley says she wants details about how the state or counties might buy the land.



“Are those going to be fee-simple acquisitions wherein whomever buys it, owns the property outright. Or would some of them be less than fee-simple—which would be conservation easement. He also mentioned there could be a combination of those things.”



The preservation partnership wants the state and counties to buy as much of the land outright as possible. Donley says her organization also opposes changes to comprehensive plans in Lee & Charlotte counties that would allow for more density on the property. Much of Babcock Ranch is currently zoned “agricultural…” which allows for just 1 unit per 10 acres.