Laura Layden | Naples Daily News
A decades-old citrus grove could be replaced by hundreds of homes in eastern Collier County.
At a board meeting May 27, county commissioners agreed to send a required amendment to the county’s growth management plan to the Florida Department of Commerce for its input.
The plan amendment, requested by a developer, who is seeking a rezoning, would create a new residential subdistrict on what’s now agriculturally-zoned land — at 341 Sabal Palm Road.
After hearing opposition from neighbors, county commissioners emphasized they weren’t taking any final action, just allowing the proposal to move forward in a multi-step zoning and hearing process that still has a long way to go.
“Allowing this to go to the state and come back with more information gives us a starting point,” said commissioner Rick LoCastro.
He added: “It’s going to make us more educated on the property. We’ve approved nothing today for construction, nothing.”
He shared some of his own concerns about the proposal, which involves land in his district. One of his biggest worries is about the traffic it would generate.
The development would replace the South Naples Citrus Grove.