Syd Kitson’s Comments To The Press

I am very pleased to announce that the challenge to Charlotte County’s Comp Plan Amendment concerning Babcock Ranch has been withdrawn. Withdrawal of this challenge to our new self-sustaining, environmentally friendly community allows us to now move forward and finalize the largest single land preservation purchase in the State’s history.

I want to take this opportunity to thank Frank Jackalone and his entire team for the spirit with which they have worked with us to resolve areas of concern over the past few weeks. Today’s announcement proves that reasonable people can find reasonable solutions to important issues that face us all.

When we began this remarkable journey less than a year ago, and set our sights on the ambitious goal of preserving this historic ranch for future generations, there were many who believed it could not be done.

But the skeptics underestimated the determination of our Governor, the Florida Cabinet, and outstanding public servants like DEP Secretary Colleen Castille and DEP Division of State Lands Director Eva Armstrong, many of the County Commissioners, our local Legislators and community leaders. Their commitment to preserving this special place has never wavered – and they, along with the dedicated staff at the Department of Environmental Protection, the Division of State Lands, the Department of Community Affairs and Charlotte and Lee Counties, have worked tirelessly to make this event possible.

What a difference a year makes. When the 2005 Florida legislature adjourned, it appeared all hopes of preserving Babcock Ranch had come to an end. Few would have predicted that on the final day of the 2006 session, they would be securing the future of the Ranch by approving the largest land acquisition in State history.

Theodore Roosevelt once said, “Neither man nor nation can prosper unless, in dealing with the present, thought is steadily taken for the future.” The preservation of Babcock Ranch demonstrates that when thought for the future is paired with action, history is made.

Everything we’ve accomplished since we first announced our contract to purchase the Babcock Florida Company last July has been founded on our commitment to preserve as much of the Ranch as possible. It’s hard to believe that less than a year later, we are on the verge of finalizing the sale of 81 percent of the Ranch for permanent preservation.

It has been almost eight months since I first announced that Kitson & Partners had signed a contract to acquire the Babcock Florida Company, which includes the approximately 91,000 acre Babcock Ranch. It would be an understatement to say that since that day last summer a number of extraordinary achievements have taken place, including an agreement with the State of Florida to purchase approximately 73,000 acres of Babcock Ranch in the single, largest purchase in the history of the state. While many achievements of the last 7 ½ months are notable, today is particularly special for Kitson & Partners and our team of visioning partners, because today is the day we unveil what I feel is an extraordinary plan for the new community of Babcock Ranch.

I’ve often referred to the new Babcock Ranch community as a great opportunity because we can design the town from a blank sheet of paper.  Thanks to extensive input from the citizens of Lee and Charlotte counties, the shared vision for the Babcock Ranch community is coming into sharper focus and that blank sheet will soon contain a detailed plan.

You’re Invited To Our Babcock Ranch
Town Hall Meeting

It’s amazing what happens when a group of talented, motivated people join forces in pursuit of a common goal. The past two weeks of intensive visioning workshops have demonstrated the incredible power of collaboration as local planners, educators and business leaders have joined forces with state and national experts to help shape the future of the new Babcock Ranch community. The ideas and proposed solutions that came out of those sessions provide a strong foundation for the new community to build on as we move into the next phase of the planning process.

One of the things I appreciate the most as we begin the planning process for our new Babcock Ranch community is the commitment and creativity of the many Charlotte and Lee County citizens who’ve stepped forward and offered to help. The people of this community have a lot of wonderful ideas and their enthusiasm is contagious.