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very pleased to announce that the challenge to Charlotte County’s Comp Plan Amendment concerning Babcock Ranch has been withdrawn.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.

I also want to express the incredible debt of gratitude we all owe to Audubon of Florida, 1000 Friends of Florida, The Everglades Foundation, the Everglades Trust and the Florida Wildlife Federation for their tireless work over the past year to help secure the vision of preserving over 80% of Babcock Ranch. Without their unwavering support and hard work, it is hard to believe that we would be here today on the threshold of preserving 74,000 acres of this outstanding property – forever.

Just as important as the preservation of 74,000 acres is, we are now able to continue with our plans to create an innovative, world class, environmentally sensitive new community at Babcock Ranch – a community we believe will be a shining example of environmentally responsible development in the 21st century. The shared vision for this new Babcock Ranch Community is the result of an unprecedented public planning process. I made a commitment to the people of Charlotte and Lee Counties that we would create an innovative, sustainable and inclusive community at Babcock Ranch and my partners and I now have the ability to fulfill on that promise. Our vision for a new community at Babcock Ranch has always been based on our belief that preservation and responsible growth can work hand in hand. With today’s announcement, I am proud to say that that vision is about to become a reality.

It has been exactly one year since I announced my company’s contract to purchase Babcock Ranch with the stated goal of preserving a majority of the land for public preservation. It has been a challenging year, to say the least, but also a very rewarding year. We are now on the verge of making our shared vision come true. Just as I was committed to preserving over 80% of the Ranch, I am committed to making the new Babcock Ranch Community a model for environmental planning and stewardship – and that commitment is reflected in our agreement with the Sierra Club.

I want to once again thank the many state, local and environmental leaders who have worked with us over the past year to seize this opportunity to preserve Babcock Ranch. There were many who believed it could not be done. And they were almost right.

Thanks to all those who refused to give up – Governor Bush, DEP Secretary Colleen Castille, Division of State Lands Director Eva Armstrong, our Southwest Florida Lawmakers, many of our county commissioners, the environmental leaders with us today – we are now poised to cross the finish line.

We look forward to closing within the next few weeks – and handing the deed to 74,000 acres of this outstanding property over to the people of Florida.