Real estate donation

[BetterWithCheddar]

Scouts: "We promote conservation."

Also Scouts: 'If we sell this camp, we can put in new toilets at our other camp!"

[InquisitiveScouter]

1 hour ago, BetterWithCheddar said:

Scouts: "We promote conservation."

Also Scouts: 'If we sell this camp, we can put in new toilets at our other camp!"

"Oh! And let's log it for more cash before we sell it!"

[RememberSchiff]

Update 11/4/2024:

Now ain't this a coincidence...

The Hernando County Chamber of Commerce met on Wednesday for their monthly breakfast meeting at the Sand Hill Scout Reservation. Century 21’s Broker-Owner Marilyn Pearson-Adams kicked things off by discussing her firm, which sponsored the meal, before the keynote speaker’s presentation.

“Family first is our motto,” Pearson-Adams said. “The reason that is important is obviously we are blessed to go out every day and make the American dream of home ownership a reality and to provide shelter for family. That is what we do, and we take that very seriously.”

...

While members munched on the morning’s morsels, the Florida Association of Realtors’ Chief Economist, Dr. Brad O’Connor, came forward to talk about the development of the Florida housing market...

More at source:

https://www.hernandosun.com/2024/11/04/dr-oconnor-provides-florida-real-estate-update-at-chamber-breakfast-meeting/

Edited November 11, 2024 by RememberSchiff

[RememberSchiff]

Instead of looking to sell camp. maybe apply for conservation grants. Here is an example with Tampa Bay Water and a Girl Scout Camp.  Application deadline is this Friday Nov 22!

 

 

 

Edited November 21, 2024 by RememberSchiff

[RememberSchiff]

05/13/2025 Update:  Sand Hill Boy Scout Reservation zoning change proposed:

A proposal is in motion to Establish a “Public Service Overlay District” at the Sandhill Boy Scout Reservation...Join us Wednesday, May 21st at 5:30 PM at the Sandhill Scout Reservation Dining Hall. Let’s show Withlacoochee River Electric Co-op and our County leaders that this community pays attention and protects its green spaces.

More at source (with comments):

https://www.facebook.com/people/Save-Sand-Hill-Scout-Reservation/61564826926765/

 

Edited May 13 by RememberSchiff

[RememberSchiff]

Update 5/21/2025:

A Public Inquiry Workshop with Hernando County reps and the Greater Tampa Bay Area Council discussed proposed details of Council selling 51 acres of the 1400 acre Sand Hill Scout Reservation to Withlacoochee River Electric Co-op.

Warren Hunt said a road in the reservation was named after his grandfather who helped acquire the land from the former property owner, Larry Die Polder. Hunt said, according to Die Polder's will, "Mr. Die Polder, when he passed away, donated it to the scouts, and it was supposed to stay a scout's camp forever. If it doesn’t stay a scout’s camp, it’s supposed to go back to the county for a park."

The topic will be further discussed in a Planning and Zoning Commission meeting in the coming weeks. 

More meeting details at source:

https://www.fox13news.com/news/discussion-held-possible-boy-scouts-sand-hill-reservation-sale-despite-former-owners-dying-wish

[RememberSchiff]

Update Sand Hill Scout Reservation 07/25/2025:

"The Greater Tampa Bay Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America cleared a key hurdle July 14 in its effort to sell 52 acres of the Sand Hill Scout Reservation to Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative (WREC).

The Hernando County Planning and Zoning Commission approved establishing a Public Service Facility Overlay District for the utility's proposed operations center by a 3-2 vote. The proposal now heads to the County Commission.

...

On the 52 acres, "WREC plans to build administrative offices, customer service facilities, warehouse space, equipment storage and a fuel station on the site. Part of the property would serve as an emergency staging area during hurricanes, with space reserved for a future substation along the western edge."

 

For now, the remaining 1200 acres would remain owned by Greater Tampa Bay Area Council but my fear is this utility district overlay will expand to build cell towers, substations, solar arrays, more warehouse space...

 

More at Source:

https://www.suncoastnews.com/news/overlay-district-for-sand-hill-acreage-gets-p-z-approval/article_f13f4a0d-17aa-4537-a000-9e5473167f8e.html

[RememberSchiff]

Update Sand Hill Scout Reservation 09/2/2025:

" The Hernando County Commission voted 4-1 Sept. 2 to approve rezoning that will allow the Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative to purchase 52 acres of Boy Scout land for an operations center.

The proposal has drawn fierce opposition from residents who argue the sale violates the wishes of Larry DiePolder, who donated the original 1,300 acres with the intention that it remain undeveloped Scout land in perpetuity. Critics organized protests and created a website opposing the plan.

Commissioner Ryan Amsler cast the lone dissenting vote, criticizing both the Scouts and the utility for their handling of the controversial proposal.

"The way this is moving forward, how the Scouts got themselves in this position in the first place, and the way they've continued to go after this — I don't think they earned their 'ethics' badge on this one," Amsler said.

The approval establishes a Public Service Facility Overlay District on part of the 1,251-acre Sand Hill Scout Reservation. Under the agreement, WREC will relocate its western Hernando County headquarters to the site, while the Scouts will use proceeds from the land sale to improve their remaining facilities."

More at source:

https://www.suncoastnews.com/news/commission-oks-rezoning-for-overlay-district-for-wrec-on-boy-scout-land/article_d890376b-0a3b-43d6-840e-3a6e6fb5bc4a.html

[scoutldr]

Unfortunately, "wishes" and "intentions" mean nothing legally.  There should have been deed restrictions.