Residents press Collier County to enforce Golden Gate Estates rules for commercial activities; staff proposes LDC amendment

Homeowners from Golden Gate Estates told the Collier County Board of County Commissioners on June 10 that commercial trucks and landscape businesses are operating from residential lots, and they asked the county to enforce provisions of the Golden Gate Estates Growth Master Plan that restrict commercial activity.

Several residents, including Timothy Maloney and William Mares, said the county's code enforcement had allowed the problem to worsen and urged immediate action. Mares quoted policy 1.4.02 of the Golden Gate Estates master plan and said it directs the county to "strictly enforce the land development code and other applicable codes and laws to control the illegal storage of machinery, vehicles, and junk, and the illegal operation of commercial activities within Golden Gate Estates."

Planning and Zoning Director Mike Bozzi and Growth Management Community Development head Jamie French told commissioners the county is drafting an LDC amendment that would regulate where commercial vehicles may be parked and clarify limits on home‑based businesses in the Estates. Bozzi said the amendment is scheduled to go to a DSAC subcommittee, then DSAC, then the planning commission; he said planning‑commission action is expected in October and a likely Board of County Commissioners hearing in November or December.

French said code enforcement had an open case and that the property owner in the specific complaint had taken some steps, including moving the business to a storefront, though employees continue to park company vehicles at the residential address. French said the Estates overlay currently allows certain types of parking and storage and that county staff is working with the county attorney on targeted ordinance language to avoid conflicts with a state preemption statute.

Bozzi and French noted a state statute preempting certain local restrictions on home‑based businesses and commercial vehicles; the county attorney told the board staff would not bring forward an ordinance in conflict with state law but would seek to "fill holes" the state law left open. Bozzi told the board the statute's preemption was extended to Oct. 1, 2027.

Commissioners urged staff to pursue a layered approach: continue current code enforcement cases, expedite the LDC amendment through DSAC and the planning commission, and provide the board targeted options for action. Staff said they would aim to present the LDC amendment to DSAC in September so it could move to the planning commission sooner if possible.

No new ordinance was adopted at the meeting; the board directed staff to continue enforcement work and to advance the LDC and Growth Master Plan amendments through the scheduled review bodies.