The six parcels are on the north and south sides of State Road 44 in New Smyrna Beach near where the historic creek runs under the busy road.

NEW SMYRNA BEACH — Now that the biggest target of the city’s Turnbull Creek land acquisition program has been purchased — 152 acres off Pioneer Trail — the City Commission decided this week to try to acquire the next parcels on the Turnbull Land Preservation list.

The six parcels are on the north and south sides of State Road 44 near where the historic creek runs under the busy road. Altogether, the parcels owned by four different landowners total nearly 22.5 acres.

Two appraisal companies conducted initial estimates so the commission might get an idea of how big a check they might be faced with if they agree to purchase the acreage.

Bullard, Hall and Adams Inc. of Daytona Beach estimated the total properties’ worth at $3.6 million while Edgewater-based Pomeroy Appraisal Associates of Florida Inc. gave an initial estimate of about $3.2 million. That’s the estimates for all six parcels, but elected officials haven’t yet agreed to purchase any of them and they have the option of purchasing all, one or none if the final offers aren’t palatable.

[READ MORE: NSB leaders agree to pay $9 million for 152 acres of preservation land]

On Tuesday, during the first virtual City Commission meeting in New Smyrna Beach’s history, elected officials agreed to pay more than $24,000 to North Florida Land Trust, entering into a contract that will allow the trust to work on the city’s behalf to negotiate land purchases with the land owners.

North Florida Land Trust is a nonprofit that aims to protect natural resources, historic places, farms and ranches throughout North Florida.

Last time around, when the city aimed to purchase the 152-acre parcel, The Trust for Public Land handled the negotiations.

But The Trust for Public Land didn’t submit a bid to handle the most recent target parcels. According to city documents, the Trust for Public Land felt the properties near State Road 44 were too small.

[READ MORE: NSB voters weigh $15 million for preservation, starting with 150 acres slated for 293 homes]

"The city wants to preserve the land surrounding Turnbull Creek to keep it free from development to protect the waterway, wildlife habitats and natural lands," according to a press release from the North Florida Land Trust, announcing the agreement with the city.

The Trust will work directly with the landowners to negotiate agreements for the purchase of the properties and manage the real estate process in coordination with the city.

"Preserving the land surrounding the creek will preserve natural spaces and historic resources, and will also help protect not only the creek’s water quality but Spruce Creek, the Indian River and the Atlantic Ocean where the creek’s water eventually flows," said Jim McCarthy, president of NFLT.

The Turnbull Creek watershed, nestled between the Mosquito Lagoon and Spruce Creek, includes a mix of hardwood upland forest, cabbage palm hammock, and forested wetlands and has historic significance. The Turnbull Canal system, which dates back to the 1700s, is on the National Registry of Historic Places.