A deal to preserve 29 acres of mangrove-lined waterfront on Boca Ciega Bay would block condo and commercial development on the site.

Pinellas County commissioners could vote as early as October on the purchase of three parcels along Duhme Road in unincorporated Pinellas, west of Bay Pines. The deal, announced Tuesday by the nonprofit WK Preservation Group, would create a new conservation area called the Duhme Road Reserve. The purchase would be funded entirely by Penny for Pinellas, the county's 1-cent sales tax paid by every Pinellas resident, including those in Palm Harbor and Dunedin.

The 29.14 acres include coastal upland, submerged aquatic habitat and an island labeled Roasted Turkey Island on Google Maps, according to Axios Tampa Bay. The land is flanked by condos to the north and homes to the south. A developer has owned the island since 2007 and once planned to build condos there, WK Preservation Group President Tex Carter told Axios. The owner of a third parcel at Duhme Road and 48th Avenue North had planned a commercial project.

Both owners have signed agreements with the preservation group indicating they intend to sell for conservation.

Price expected below $3 million appraisals

County parks officials declined to name a price Tuesday, saying they were still in due diligence. Carter told Axios the price will be "quite a bit less" than appraisals of about $3 million. The county has $7 million in Penny funds available for environmental land purchases.

"It looks like we've got the makings of a deal here that's really going to be nice for the residents of Pinellas County," Commissioner Brian Scott told WFLA on Tuesday. Scott said the county has had its eye on the property for more than a decade and views preservation as a quality-of-life issue amid increasing development.

Restoring the marsh comes first

If the sale goes through, the first priority is removing invasive species, including Brazilian pepper plants, Carter told Axios. Officials have discussed adding a kayak launch and a boardwalk or walking trail, but no plans are final.

Bruce Turley, vice president of WK Preservation Group, told WFLA on Tuesday that the mangrove marsh acts as an estuary and a refuge for coastal birds. The land is mostly marsh, which has kept developers away so far, WFLA reported.

Second project for local preservation group

The Duhme Road Reserve is the group's second project. Residents formed WK Preservation Group in 2020 to save the 14-acre West Klosterman Preserve near Tarpon Springs, raising $1.5 million to help the county buy that land, Tampa Bay Beacons reported. This time, no private fundraising drive is needed for the purchase price.

A neighborhood town hall is set for 3:30 to 5 p.m. Monday at the Seminole Recreation Department, 9100 113th St. N. Group members plan to present details and take questions. Paul Cozzie, a county parks official, and Scott have been invited. The county commission vote has not been scheduled.