Collier County waives nighttime hearing for floating‑solar code amendment; staff told to limit by‑right uses

Collier County commissioners on June 24 voted unanimously to waive the nighttime‑hearing requirement and directed staff to return with a land‑development‑code amendment to accommodate floating solar facilities in line with new state guidance.

Why it matters: Florida law directs local governments to accommodate floating solar in appropriate land‑use categories; the county’s action starts a local process to determine where floating solar would be permitted by right, where it would require conditional use approval and what conditions should apply to protect neighbors and the environment.

Board direction: Planning and Zoning Director Mike Bozzi said staff intends to propose that floating solar be permitted by right in public‑use zoning and treated as a conditional use elsewhere. County Attorney counsel noted the statute requires permitting in ‘‘appropriate land use categories’’ and allows the county to define those categories. Commissioners emphasized a cautious approach: Commissioner McDaniel said he preferred to limit by‑right permissions and retain a conditional‑use path that allows neighborhood input; Commissioner Hall said he favored the minimum necessary by‑right allowances to preserve local control.

What the board approved: The board approved waiving the nighttime hearing and asked staff to draft code language that would permit floating solar in limited land‑use categories (staff suggested public use) and require conditional‑use review elsewhere so the county can place site‑specific conditions, buffering and other protections.

Ending: Staff will prepare a draft amendment for two daytime hearings and return to the board for adoption. Commissioners said they expect subsequent public notice and hearings on the specific code language.