WATCH: Mac McLouth Urges Port Canaveral Commission To Save Popular Beachfront Jetty Park Land

By  //  May 30, 2018

6PM MEETING TONIGHT AT THE PORT AUTHORITY COULD DETERMINE JETTY PARK LAND

VIDEO: Port Canaveral expert Mac McLouth explains the details and history surrounding the 9.6 acres of property at Jetty Park owned by Brevard County that is an integral part of the highly popular beachfront park used by hundreds of thousands of people annually.

BREVARD COUNTY • PORT CANAVERAL, FLORIDA – Mac McLouth, a Republican candidate for Canaveral Port Authority Commission District 5, explained the facts and history concerning 9.6 acres of land at Jetty Park owned by Brevard County which is under negotiation for purchase by the port.

“The county was our partner with this park 51 years ago and we should now act in good faith and negotiate a fair price for the 9.6 acres,” said Mclouth.

“We should offer to purchase the land for what the county paid for it 20 years ago, as that would be a fair deal for the port, the county and local taxpayers. In fact, I believe that the costs of not making a deal and having to vacate the 9.6 acres could meet or exceed the fair purchase price.”

Jetty Park is a 45-acre public park at the east end of Port Canaveral, operated by the Canaveral Port Authority. Currently, 35.4 acres are owned by the Canaveral Port Authority and 9.6 acres are owned by Brevard County.

Originally, Jetty Park was operated by Brevard County. From 1986 to 1995, the county leased the land to the Canaveral Port Authority for a nominal consideration of $1 per year. In 1995, Port Canaveral took over all operations and maintenance responsibilities by agreeing to a 20-year lease of the county land. That lease agreement expired in December 2015.

During this lease period, the Canaveral Port Authority improved the county-owned 9.6 acres by constructing a new entrance road and related improvements.

Since that time, the Canaveral Port Authority and Brevard County have been in discussions regarding the future use of the county-owned land, but have not yet reached an agreement. The Canaveral Port Authority continues, however, to operate and maintain all 45 acres.

Jetty Park is a 45-acre public park at the east end of Port Canaveral, operated by the Canaveral Port Authority. Currently, 35.4 acres are owned by the Canaveral Port Authority and 9.6 acres are owned by Brevard County.

JETTY PARK Q&A

What if the CPA and Brevard County can’t reach an agreement? The CPA will continue to operate and maintain Jetty Park and ensure the public has access to it. If the CPA is no longer permitted to use the entrance road on the Brevard County-owned land, the CPA will re-open the original entrance to Jetty Park off of Christopher Columbus Drive. This will be done at no cost to the taxpayers of Brevard County. No other changes are expected at this time.

What will happen with the Brevard County-owned land? Brevard County will decide. The CPA hopes that Brevard County’s 9.6 acres will always be a public recreational park operated together with the CPA’s 35.4 acres. However, Brevard County, as the owner of the 9.6 acres, has the right to use the parcel as it deems necessary, including the right to sell or develop the parcel, subject to normal development requirements and restrictions.

The Canaveral Port Authority will discuss Jetty Park at its next regularly scheduled commission meeting to be held May 30 at 6 p.m. in the Maritime Center, located at 445 Challenger Road at Port Canaveral. The meeting is open to the public and comments may also be submitted to comments@portcanaveral.com

Jetty Park inside Port Canaveral: The 9.6 acres owned by Brevard County is outlined in red.
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