Babcock Ranch developer to host town hall meeting

Community members will have a chance to give input on the possible development of Babcock Ranch at a town hall meeting Monday.

Developer Syd Kitson, of Kitson & Partners, will host the meeting, where residents can ask questions and share their ideas for the Babcock Ranch community.

Kitson’s plan to develop part of the 91,000-acre ranch and sell the remaining 74,000 acres to the state for preservation is moving along with the governor’s inclusion of $350 million for the purchase in his proposed budget.

Kitson has held several “visioning workshops” over the past two weeks, which gave local planners, business leaders and educators opportunities to put forth their ideas for the ranch’s development.

Monday’s town hall meeting is the first real opportunity for the community to take part in the discussion.

All interested parties are invited to attend the meeting, which will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Monday in Ballroom A of the Student Union building at Florida Gulf Coast University.