Practice Scenario #2

Beasley Springs is a small town with a large problem on its hands. The Dixon family deeded to the city, two years ago, a 640 acre tract of land. The land has several resource concerns. There is a 68 acre wetland that is used by wintering migratory waterfowl. There is, on the NW corner of the property, adjacent to the city boundary, a Civil War era cemetery that covers approximately 4 acres. A portion of the graves there are not even marked with stones. The Goose Bottom Creek runs diagonally across the property from NE to SW. It hosts a diverse population of macoinvertebrates and a large population of leopard darters and Johnny darters.

The area adjacent to the creek is wooded with a diverse mixture of grasses, shrubs, vines, and trees.

A conglomerate from an adjacent county wishes to lease the land from the city and develop an amusement park on the land. They wish to take out a long term lease (99 years) with the city on the property. The amusement park would bring in a lot of tax revenue for Beasley Springs.

Your job as the Development Planning Committee is to evaluate both sides of the situation. After your evaluation you have to present to the local County Zoning Commission your recommendations.

You have 15 minutes to review the situation, come to a conclusion, and make your 5 minute presentation to the Zoning Commission.