Commissioners transmit Sable Palm growth‑plan amendment to state after heated public comment; notice radius expanded

The Collier County Board of County Commissioners voted to transmit to the Florida Department of Commerce a proposed growth management plan amendment that would change the future land use designation for a 169.19‑acre parcel on Sable Palm Road, replacing the Rural Fringe Mixed‑Use District (a NERPA/sending designation) with a residential subdistrict allowing up to 2.5 units per acre (up to 423 owner‑occupied units) and a 30‑year, 15% for‑sale affordable housing commitment (63 units).

Richard Yovanovitch, representing the petitioner, and planning witnesses described the site as an existing orange grove and argued the property was likely misdesignated as sending lands when the Rural Fringe district was established. The petitioner asked for a subdistrict that would permit 2.5 units per acre and said the project would include a companion planned unit development, on‑site stormwater improvements, a 60% usable open‑space commitment and a 30‑foot buffer to adjacent conservation lands. Transportation and county staff indicated that the applicant committed to upgrade Sable Palm Road to county standards along the property frontage and to extend utilities.

County planning and environmental consultants described the proposal’s public benefits, including treatment of agricultural runoff, creation of a regulated stormwater system and increases in preserved native habitat (projected to rise from about 2.5 acres to roughly 10.5 acres on site after invasive removal). The applicant proposed 15% for‑sale affordable units targeted to incomes below the area median and emphasized proximity to nearby employers as supportive of an affordable‑housing objective.

More than a dozen residents and community groups opposed the amendment during public comment, pressing concerns about drainage, existing neighborhood flooding and the capacity of Sable Palm Road. Speakers from nearby Tamarindo, Verona Walk and Morgan Road reported water‑handling problems in heavy rains and questioned whether additional development would worsen flooding and traffic; many urged conservation or other alternatives. Audubon Western Everglades urged denial and argued the parcel should remain NERPA sending land, citing wildlife corridors, prescribed‑fire management considerations and surrounding conservation lands.

Planning director Mike Bozzi told the board the planning commission recommended approval by a 4‑1 vote after the applicant revised the proposal to reduce density to 2.5 units per acre, increase open space to 60% and add the 30‑foot buffer. Bozzi said the board’s action was a transmittal to state agencies for review and does not approve the PUD or authorize construction: state reviewers will have 30 days to comment, after which staff will return the item to planning commission and ultimately to the board for adoption consideration.

After lengthy public comment and discussion among commissioners, the board voted to transmit the plan amendment to the state and to expand the required property‑notice radius for subsequent neighborhood notices to one mile (the petitioner agreed). The motion passed unanimously.

Commissioners and staff emphasized that transmitting to the state is an intermediate procedural step and that the public will have further opportunities to comment at a future neighborhood information meeting, the planning commission hearing and the board adoption hearing. The board asked staff to schedule additional outreach and to provide details on road improvements, stormwater modeling and traffic studies before any adoption vote.