JAN K. PLATT ENVIRONMENTAL LANDS ACQUISITION
AND PROTECTION PROGRAM (ELAPP)
STRATEGIC PLAN
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
DECEMBER 2014
The Hillsborough County Jan. K. Platt ELAP Program is recognized as one of the largest,
most successful land acquisition programs in the southeastern United States, having
acquired over 61,500 acres of environmentally sensitive lands since the program’s
inception in 1987. Individual preserves range from over 12,800 acres to less than 20
acres in size.
The purpose of this proposed ELAPP strategic plan is to outline the natural evolution of
the ELAP Program as the County selectively targets approved properties for acquisition
to enhance existing preserves, provide recreational trails, enhance public access, provide
educational opportunities, and, perhaps most importantly, promote the County as a
worldwide destination for ecotourism opportunities such as birding, canoeing, fishing,
hiking, and biking. Using short term commercial paper as a bridge between bond issues
could provide an efficient and timely solution to immediate and short term funding.
Until such time as the BOCC approves another bond issue, commercial paper would be
used to fund acquisitions for the next six to twelve months before the issuance of bonds.
In the absence of any single significant acquisition (such as a contract exceeding $10
million), it is anticipated that each issuance would be between $20 million and $30
million to (1) refund the commercial paper and (2) fund acquisition for the next two to
three years.
The positive economic benefits of the ELAP Program cannot be overlooked. While it is
difficult to fully quantify the economic impact of the Program, we know that it: 1) has a
positive impact on real estate values for homes adjacent to ELAPP sites; 2) results in
lower flood insurance rates for County residents; and 3) provides increased opportunities
for ecotourism throughout the County. There are currently a total of 122 public access
points (25 of wh