In a four to one vote, Alachua County Commissioners agreed to add more than eight thousand acres of conservation land to a protected registry.

Except for Susan Baird, the commission voted to add Phifer Flatwoods, Barr Hammock, Mill Creek, and Northeast Flatwoods to the registry of protected public spaces.

Putting the lands on the list make it difficult for those lands to be sold or developed in the future.

But officials say there are some caveats. In order to get the support of four commissioners, areas of roadside land along each property were set aside for potential future roadway development.

Sweetwater Branch was also on the list to be approved, but commissioners put it on hold until they could get more information about the property.