About 29 acres of marshland and island habitat on Boca Ciega Bay could become a county nature preserve called the Duhme Road Reserve under agreements signed with two property owners.

The West Klosterman Preservation Group announced the memoranda of understanding with Skycrest Properties LLC and CKC Properties II LLC. Skycrest owns two parcels totaling 28.53 acres along Duhme Road south of 51st Avenue North, including coastal upland, surrounding aquatic land and the island labeled "Roasted Turkey Island" on Google Maps. CKC owns an adjacent 0.61-acre vacant lot on Duhme Road near Cherokee Drive that could serve as an access point for the preserve.

Mangrove marsh sits between condos and homes

The property sits between Boca Ciega Point Boulevard and 48th Avenue North in unincorporated Pinellas County, flanked by condos to the north and homes to the south. Most of the land is wetland marsh, home to mangroves, seabirds, snook, trout and fiddler crabs, according to Axios.

Owner agrees to sell below appraised value

A developer has owned the island and coastal property since 2007 and once planned to build condos there, group President Tex Carter told Axios. Carter said the purchase price will be "quite a bit less" than appraisals of about $3 million. The owner is willing to sell below market value on the condition that the land stays wild, WFLA reported.

The county would pay with Penny for Pinellas revenue, the 1-cent sales tax that funds capital projects including preservation land purchases. About $7 million in Penny funds is available for environmental land buys, according to county figures cited by Axios.

Unlike the group's first project, the 14-acre West Klosterman Preserve, which required a $1.5 million community fundraising drive, the county is set to cover the full Duhme Road purchase price with Penny funds.

Pinellas County Commissioner Brian Scott told WFLA that the county has had its eye on the property for more than a decade. "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," Scott said.

Kayak launch, habitat restoration planned for preserve

The group envisions removing invasive Brazilian pepper from the upland portion and restoring native habitat, according to Fox 13. Proposed public amenities include a soft kayak launch and a nature-friendly parking area, with potential future walkway access to the island. Those improvements are not finalized.

The group and Scott scheduled a town hall for Monday at the Seminole Recreation Department, 9100 113th St. N. Paul Cozzie, the county's parks and conservation resources director, was also invited.

County staff members are drafting contracts that could go before the Pinellas County Commission in late October or early November, according to Tampa Bay Times reporting. The group's project FAQ sets a goal of sealing the deal by year's end.