Betz Farm back on the agenda

By John Labriola - The Citrus County Commission on Tuesday will be considering a motion by Commissioner Holly Davis to rescind the commission's earlier cancellation of the sale of Betz Farm.

On April 14, Davis had joined all commissioners except Jeff Kinnard in voting 4-1 to send a notice of termination of the $6 million contract to Bravo Land Group, which is managed by James Dicks, founder of DIX Developments. According to Tuesday's agenda memorandum, her move to rescind that notice appears motivated by concerns that canceling the 2023 sale could cost the county more than its $100,000 insurance deductible if there is a lawsuit, including $360,000 in commission payments sought by Kevin Cunningham, whom the county had awarded the contract to sell the property.

Commissioner Janet Barek had sponsored the move to cancel the sale so the vacant 350-acre property could be kept as conservation land, arguing that the developer had breached the contract by missing various deadlines, which Bravo Land Group disputes.

The land, located on the north side of Turkey Oak Drive just outside the City of Crystal River, has been in county hands since 2017 and was put on the market to help the county pay for a new animal shelter, which ended up using other financing.

Ken Walters, president of the Crystal Oaks Civic Association, has been leading the effort to get the commission to preserve the land from development. Bravo Land Group wants to build up to about 1,500 homes on the property. 

"The citizens of Citrus want it to be left as a preserve," Walters said. "We have to beat Dicks at this. We have to let everybody know Dicks does not run this county. He and the developers will be able to do anything they want from here on out if we don't set a precedent."

Walters said Davis has agreed to speak at his association on Monday and answer questions from the public. The meeting will take place at 6:30 p.m. on May 11 at the Crystal Oaks Clubhouse, 4958 W Crystal Oaks Dr, Lecanto, FL 34460. The Nature World Wildlife Sanctuary and Athena Smith, a local 9-year-old environmental activist, will be there as well.

The Citrus County Commission meeting will take place on Tuesday, May 12, at 1 p.m., at the Citrus County Courthouse, 110 N Apopka Ave., Inverness, FL 34450.

You can contact commissioners at the email addresses below to express your thoughts:

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