Conservation Acquisition, HB 105 in the news, and more...
- IRNA
- 2 days ago
- 6 min read
County Moves Forward on Jungle Trail Conservation Acquisition
Indian River County commissioners unanimously approved a $5.85 million purchase agreement on November 4th for nearly 20 acres along the historic Jungle Trail. The final vote comes November 18th after bond counsel review.
The Property
The 19.6-acre parcel at 1350 Island Club Manor shares a 128-meter border with Captain Forster Hammock Preserve—one of the last chances to expand this significant conservation area. The site was historically maritime hammock forest until a citrus grove was planted in 1943. After the grove became fallow around 2005, the land was repeatedly cleared. Today it's mostly grassland (88%), with a small 1.8-acre forest remnant and about 2.2 acres of wetlands.
The eastern portion still shows historic dune-and-swale topography. The western side has excavated ponds connected to the Indian River Lagoon, though ditching and clearing have significantly altered the original landscape.
Why It Matters
According to the environmental assessment by Water & Air Research, Inc., the property offers:
Direct connection to Captain Forster Hammock Preserve's imperiled maritime hammock ecosystem
Habitat for rare species including eastern indigo snake, gopher tortoise, and wood stork
Potential for several state-listed plants
Strong restoration opportunities: replanting native maritime hammock, creating stormwater wetlands, restoring salt marsh, and controlling invasive species like Brazilian pepper
The site is currently zoned RS-3 residential (up to 3 units/acre), reclassified from agricultural this past April.
Funding
The purchase uses ELAP bond funds from the $50 million referendum that 78.2% of voters approved in 2022, a measure IRNA actively supported. Appraisals valued the land between $5-5.7 million; the negotiated price is about 3% above the higher estimate.
The contract includes 60 days for due diligence and 30 days to close. Future plans could include wildlife viewing areas, interpretive signage about the lagoon ecosystem, and public access along the Jungle Trail.
We will be taking next week off from the weekly newsletter due to the Thanksgiving Holiday. We will see you in December!
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The Flawed Arguments for HB 105
Supporters of Rep. Brackett's HB 105 make several arguments that sound reasonable but fall apart under scrutiny.
"It Creates Fair, Consistent Enforcement"
The Claim: The bill ensures government acts as a "predictable referee" and follows the principle that "rules matter."
The Reality: We agree that "rules matter," but these processes for fairness already exist. Every Florida municipality has accessible appeals: public hearings, code enforcement boards, and elected councils. HB 105 bypasses these democratic local processes and replaces them with expensive lawsuits. This doesn't make the government a "predictable referee"; it turns the courtroom into the playing field.
Florida communities are quite diverse, each with a unique set of circumstances and objectives going forward. Some want to aggressively attract development, residential growth and employment, while others want to see a balance. The best Vero Beach example is the building height restriction adopted in the City Charter in response to The Spires Condo construction in the early 1970's. Local city staff and elected council members are in the best position to represent the residents’ and local businesses’ consensus, letting Vero Beach be somewhat different from St Lucie and Fort Pierce. We have a proud tradition that can only be maintained with citizen awareness and participation in local decisions made by our city and county as well as challenging our representatives at the state level to support our choices and our integrity.
"It Stops Rogue Bureaucrats"
The Claim: We need to stop officials who "move the goalposts" with "changing interpretations" or "delayed inspections."
The Reality: The bill's language is dangerously vague. By defining prohibited actions merely as "unreasonable" or "arbitrary", the bill itself moves the goalposts. A developer might call a 30-day environmental review an "unreasonable" delay, while engineers know it's necessary to prevent flooding. This paralyzes officials through intimidation rather than creating clear standards.
"It's Pro-Business and Pro-Growth"
The Claim: This legislation protects the "little guy" and "mom-and-pop business owners" who don't have a "team of lawyers" to navigate regulations.
The Reality: This argument is the exact opposite of the truth. HB 105 forces disputes into circuit court, the one place where you must have a "team of lawyers" to survive. By allowing plaintiffs to sue for damages up to $50,000 and attorney fees, the bill incentivizes expensive litigation that a "mom-and-pop" business cannot afford, but wealthy developers can.
"It Creates Needed Legal Remedies"
The Claim: This "restores trust" by giving citizens a "process... to make it right" when government oversteps.
The Reality: These remedies largely already exist. Florida's Bert J. Harris Act already allows property owners to sue if regulations "inordinately burden" their property. HB 105 just lowers the bar to the absurdly vague standard of "unreasonable" and forces taxpayers to foot the bill for one-way attorney fees. Rather than "restoring trust," it erodes confidence by allowing special interests to weaponize the legal system against local communities.
The Bottom Line
HB 105 doesn't solve problems—it creates them. It empowers wealthy interests to sue their way around democratic decisions while forcing taxpayers to foot the bill.
IRNA Wrote up reason that HB 105 is not good for our communities, and it was published here. Rep. Brackett also wrote something up on why he feels it is a good bill.
Transfer of county roads to state highway system will save local taxpayers millions (Vero News) - Indian River County’s transfer of 16 miles of roadway to the state highway system will save millions in maintenance costs, allow access to federal funds, and potentially accelerate key infrastructure projects like the widening of County Road 510.
Florida's waters are getting worse and corruption is the problem (VoteWater.org) - Florida’s worsening water quality is driven by political corruption and regulatory failures that prioritize special interests like developers and Big Sugar over environmental protection, but organized citizen pushback is proving effective in challenging harmful policies.
In Florida, Manatee Deaths Edge Up Slightly in 2025 (Inside Climate News) - Manatee deaths in Florida rose slightly in 2025 to 587, with ongoing threats from water pollution, seagrass loss, boat strikes, and habitat challenges prompting legal action, conservation efforts, and renewed calls for stronger environmental protections.
Clam research leads to seagrass restoration project in Florida (TCPalm) - Lucinid clams help seagrass because of their ability to digest toxic hydrogen sulfide. The plan: place millions of clams in a seagrass restoration area. Video.
Rural St Lucie County voices concerns over proposed huge data center (TCPalm) - Rural St. Lucie County landowners concerned about proposed 15-million-quare-foot data center. Video.
Where Nutcrackers Meet Manatees:A Holiday Tradition Returns to Riverside Theatre
Few holiday traditions capture the magic of the lagoon quite like Ballet Vero Beach's Nutcracker on the Indian River, returning to Riverside Theatre December 11-14 for performances that trade sugarplum fairies for dancing manatees and river otters.
As we discussed a few weeks ago, this production represents exactly the kind of creative environmental storytelling that makes conservation messages stick. Instead of snow-covered forests, Marie's dream sequence transports audiences to the shores of the Indian River Lagoon, where local flora and fauna take center stage, from clacking land crabs to graceful bougainvillea.
Set in 1919 Vero Beach, the ballet maintains all the whimsy of Tchaikovsky's classic while grounding the story in our community's unique landscape. Marie journeys from New York's Fifth Avenue mansions through Grand Central Station to Florida's shores, creating a holiday experience that feels both magical and deeply local.
When families leave the theater and drive past the lagoon, they won't just see water, they'll remember dancing manatees and the wonder of our irreplaceable estuary. That's the power of art meeting environmental advocacy, creating emotional connections that statistics alone never could.
Tickets are available here and range from $10-$90, with VIP experiences available for $25 extra.
Indian River County Schools Seek Input on Proposed Schedule Changes for 2026-27 (Sebastian Daily) - Indian River County School District is gathering community input on proposed 2026–27 schedule changes that slightly adjust start and end times across school levels following the repeal of a state-mandated start time law.
Titkanich cashes in on persuasive quick-pitch (Vero News) - County Administrator John Titkanich secured an early contract extension through a strategic and persuasive presentation that split the Indian River County Commission, winning a 3-2 vote despite criticism over transparency, oversight, and communication.
Al's Family Farms reopens Fort Pierce after Hurricane Milton tornadoes (TCPalm) - After being devastated by tornadoes from Hurricane Milton in October 2024, Al's Family Farms in Fort Pierce is reopening its rebuilt and expanded citrus store and packing house with a grand celebration 13 months later.
Red snapper season in Atlantic getting big upgrade, Gov. says (News-Journal Online) - Florida's 2026 red snapper season on the Atlantic coast will expand from just two days to 39, pending federal approval, offering offshore anglers more opportunities while spreading out fishing pressure and potentially easing regulatory and safety challenges.
Indian River County Adjusts Trash Collection Schedule for Thanksgiving (Sebastian Daily) - Curbside trash, recycling, and yard waste collection in unincorporated Indian River County will be delayed by one day over Thanksgiving, with Thursday pickups moved to Friday and Friday’s to Saturday.
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