On December 10th, the Collier County Board of County Commissioners held a meeting and voted to approve items 9A, 9B, and 9C. This decided the fate of established preserve land, Section 29. Fiddler’s Creek has long sought to rezone Section 29 to allow for the building of a four-story apartment complex, expanding the Fiddler’s Creek community to 6,750 dwellings. Notably, Section 29 is not connected to the rest of Fiddler’s Creek’s land, and would require further development of Auto Ranch Road to give the new community adequate access to U.S. 41.
As the MIA Wave has covered before, many have discussed concerns over what might happen if Fiddler’s Creek were given the go-ahead with their project. Specifically, storm surge and loss of endangered species habitat.
Section 29 has long served as a natural wetland vital for flooding prevention and safeguards the surrounding communities from storm surges and flooding during hurricanes and heavy rains. This land has historically helped prevent serious flooding to neighboring homes and businesses. The proposed development could damage this essential natural buffer, significantly increasing flood risks for properties that rely on this protection.
Section 29 is also home to federally endangered species that call Florida home, such as the Florida bonneted bat (FBB), the Florida panther, the American crocodile, the red-cockaded woodpecker, the Eastern indigo snake, and the wood stork.
Brad Cornell, a policy director with Audubon Western Everglades expressed strong disapproval towards the project, stating his concerns about the wildlife and environment. The additional eight acres to be developed for the road is part of a preserve in an area frequented by panthers. Section 29, designated as “neutral land” has become a haven for panthers. Cornell stated, “That’s a big deal.”
Because of Section 29’s location near Collier-Seminole State Park and the Rookery Bay Reserve, one of the largest mangrove swamps in the world, and protects coast lands, water, and wildlife, respectively, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service expressed concerns about harm to the environment due to increased activity on the site, which is rendered as “incidental take.” Mitigation strategies designated by the Army Corps of Engineers would include a 7.2-acre on-site preserve as well as a 606.8-acre off-site preserve. It is important to note, however, that these preserve areas fall outside of the targeted panther zone.
As of now, the developer’s plan includes a provision that 15% of the apartments would be solely for those making 80% less than the average household income in Collier County. Additionally, another 15% of apartments would be reserved for those making 100% less than the average household income. Commissioners lauded the plans for making housing cheaper for lower-earning but necessary professions such as deputies or law enforcement officers.
Along with voting to support Fiddler Creek’s new complex, commissioners also approved the expansion of Auto Ranch Road to two lanes. Mike Bosi, the Collier County Planning and Zoning Director, stated that the road improvements could be helpful for all residents of the area, not just future residents of this Fiddler’s Creek development. Along with the road, the project looks to add a five-foot sidewalk adjacent to the road and elevate parts of the road prone to flooding. In all, developers expect the road expansion part of the project to cost almost eight million dollars.
In July, the Collier County Planning Commission recommended unanimously against making Section 29 into apartments. At the Collier County Board of County Commissioners meeting in December, Commissioner Rick LoCastro disagreed with the Planning Commission and questioned if they actually knew what they were voting on.
While the plan received unanimous approval from the Collier County Board of County Commissioners, that does not mean that the project is even close to receiving the green light to start construction. For the project to continue, it must still receive permits from state and federal officials and agencies such as the Army Corps of Engineers. Even the project’s own attorney described the future of the project as a ‘huge uphill battle”. Rick LoCastro detailed Section 29’s future by saying, “We are not putting shovels in the ground today”.
