Just north of the Weeki Wachee Preserve is an abandoned 60-acre parcel on the eastern side of Shoal Line Boulevard owned by the county. The property had been used for utilities, but has been idle for some time. Residents have asked for a recreational area to be built, and this space could be ideal.
Budget Manager Pamela Lee asked the Board of County Commissioners for $30,000 from the Quality of Life Capital Fund to pay for a consultant to draft a potential plan. Coastal Engineering will be asked to complete the job. The BOCC recently established the ‘Quality of Life Capital Fund,’ transferring $3,080,000 from the ‘Environmentally Sensitive Lands (ESL) Fund.’ While the ESL funds are used for continued maintenance of the currently owned properties designated as sensitive lands, the ‘Quality of Life Capital Fund,’ was setup for recreational and environmental projects that don’t quite meet the strict ESL fund guidelines.
The commissioners voted unanimously for the consultant to begin the work on developing a plan for the Shoal Line property. If the plan is approved, the county could discuss a partnership with the Southwest Florida Water Management District, which owns and maintains the Weeki Wachee Preserve. The property could provide access “to the passive recreational area currently permitted within the Weeki Wachee Preserve,” agenda item documents state.