Flagler County Submits Application to Buy 153 Acres for Conservation

The Flagler County government has submitted an application to purchase 153 acres of undeveloped land for conservation purposes. The county’s application was completed to be ratified by the Board of County Commissioners at their Monday business meeting. Covered in the land the county is seeking to purchase is the Bulow Creek Floodplain Addition to the ongoing Flagler County Blueway project. If the sale is completed, the county will be buying the 153 acres from Veranda Bay, who own much of the surrounding area with plans for a major new 2,400-home development. “I am pleased to share that today we submitted [the application],” County Administrator Heidi Petito wrote in an email to county commissioners last week. “This milestone reflects our community’s strong commitment to protecting the headwaters of Bulow Creek and ensuring that future generations can enjoy its natural beauty.” Florida Forever The application being submitted will be considered for the Florida Forever program, an initiative passed by the state legislature in 1999 and signed into law by then-Governor Jeb Bush. Through this conservation grant program, Florida’s state government has worked with municipalities to purchase around 2.5 million acres of land. Should the application be approved, the state government will financially assist Flagler County in buying the 153 acres so that they can be kept wild and undeveloped for years to come. Palm Coast in particular was ranked the 24th fastest-growing area in the United States in 2025-26 by U.S. News & World Report. With this trend quickly working its way into everyday life in Flagler County, preservation of green spaces has become a top priority for longtime residents. Moving Forward According to a report on the application by the county, the hopes are that the acquisition would preserve vital wildlife habitats, open the door to potential new trails and recreation spaces, maintain the area’s natural floodplain protections, and keep the local charm that gave the county its initial appeal. The next step after the Flagler County Commission ratifies this application will be to bring it before the state. On February 14th, 2026 the Acquisition Restoration Council (ARC) will review the proposal. From there, the county’s Environmentally Sensitive Lands (ESL) program would work with the St. Johns River Water Management District to try and finalize a Florida Forever purchase. “There is the potential to share funding for either fee simple purchase or conservation easement,” Petito continued. “This is the beginning of a long process, but it was essential to start with a willing seller, and I’m pleased to report we were able to secure that commitment today.”