Morgan Group donates $444,000 to Tarpon Springs Land Preservation Fund

The City of Tarpon Springs on Tuesday accepted a private donation of $444,000 from the Morgan Group to its Land Preservation Fund, city officials said.

Cindy Trapani of Planning Strategies, representing the Morgan Group, presented the check and described the Caroline Anclote Harbor development as “a first class multifamily community… nestled within a preserved natural environment.” She told the commission, “You read this right $444,000.” The donation was presented as part of the developer’s effort to preserve on‑site wetlands and support open space in the Anclote River corridor.

Jeff Miller, partner with the Morgan Group in Central Florida, said the project is nearing completion and expects first units in "the next 2 or 3 months," with final completion later this year. Miller and other speakers said the development preserves most wetlands on the 64‑acre site, building on about 12 acres for the apartment community while leaving roughly 54 acres as park, preserve and wetlands.

Jacob Carr, a former commissioner who worked on the effort, defended the process and the project’s approvals, saying an earlier city investigation found no impropriety. "Everything came out clean," he said, framing the donation and the preserved open space as a "win‑win" for the city and future residents.

City staff said the development is expected to increase Tarpon Springs’ ad valorem tax base by an estimated $400,000 annually once fully built out; officials also noted the project’s impact fees for utilities and public safety. No council vote was required to accept the donation at the meeting; the presentation concluded with a public photo opportunity.

What’s next: City staff will record the donation and deposit the funds into the Land Preservation Fund; the commission and staff said they expect the development’s first units to come online within months and that the city will continue to monitor mitigation and conservation commitments made by the developer.