Lee County’s plan to purchase the portion of the Babcock Ranch that lies within the county has been put on hold. Developer Syd Kitson has a contract to purchase the ranch – contingent on an agreement with Lee & Charlotte Counties, and the state. About 9-thousand acres of the more than 90-thousand acre ranch are in Lee. Commissioners want to buy all that land to prevent development. Kitson only wants to sell five thousand acres. County Attorney – David Owen – says, a recent letter from Kitson made it clear that full acquisition of the land within Lee County isn’t part of the deal…

“The issue that was brought to us initially was whether or not to acquire the entire part of the parcel that lies south of the Charlotte County line. As the result of Mr. Kitson’s letter of October the 6th, Mr. Kitson is not offering that for sale at this time.”

Meanwhile the state has not revealed what agreement it’s worked out with Kitson. Owen says he expects to have something in writing from the state before the weekend. Charlotte County is also working on a deal with Kitson.