I spent about 20 minutes with the 3 gentlemen after the meeting. There was one County Commissioner that stated during the meeting he was expecting to see some type of sight plan on the project based on their discussions of their last meeting. The planner said more time was needed to evaluate the environmental areas. Many at the meeting where disappointed as best not to see something. They did however state that the Sector Plan would include the 7000 acres in Bay that border the Airport development (West Bay Sector Plan). It also includes 900 acres in Ebro and 48, 000 acres in Washington County. They expect that slightly over half will be set aside for Conservation. A 25,000 acre development with 16 miles of HWY frontage and ties into the new International Airport is big News . These fine gentlemen were extremely kind but held their cards closed to their chest. You can bet I was trying to get whatever info I could.
55,000 acres involved ...
Not All Of Knight Property Will Be Developed
Washington County commissioners learned April 24th there is apparently no Disney park development slated for Washington County at this time.
Representatives of the Knight Family Trust met with commissioners Thursday to give them an update regarding plans for the 55,000 acres. Gary Englehart, representing the family, said 48,000 of those acres are in Washington County and approximately 7,000 acres are in Bay County.
Englehart said everyone immediately recognized the property as a unique piece of land and the family wants to see it protected. David Powell, attorney for the project, added the majority of the property will not be developed.
Pointing out that the saw mills and turpentine operations that once took place on some of the land, along with the sand hills lakes, cypress swamps and natural features of the land, encapsulate a great deal of the history of North Florida.
Preliminary archeological work on the property has been completed by Dr. John Phillips, and Englehart said over the next year environmental teams will be working at the site. Following completion of the environmental study another 18 to 24 months will spent in the planning phase which he predicted will be long range.
Englehart said that right now they are looking at a blank piece of paper concerning development.
Powell added that when the Sector Plan is being developed planners will host workshops for the counties, state agencies and the public.