CRA advisory board hears update on Naples Design District master plan, infrastructure and timing for zoning changes

Chair Waller convened the City of Naples Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) advisory board on March 23, where CRA administrator Anita summarized progress and next steps for the Naples Design District Master Plan. The board heard that infrastructure and stormwater work along 10th Street, 1st Avenue South and 12th Street South is the implementation priority and that the 60% design review for that project is expected at the advisory board’s next meeting.

Anita told the board the master plan was accepted by the CRA in June 2022 and that advisory members previously recommended about 35 implementation strategies. She said six initial action items were identified; the top priority is critical infrastructure (stormwater management, utilities and street reconstruction), and that work is currently in design. ‘‘That project is in design and will be coming back to you for a 60% review shortly,’’ Anita said. Staff expects the board will see the 60% package in April or May.

Why it matters: board members repeatedly emphasized that underground systems and stormwater improvements must be finished before final streetscape treatments. Vice Chairman Matanti and others urged finishing ‘‘inside the walls’’ — utilities and drainage — so lighting, hardscaping and beautification built on top will perform as intended.

Stormwater and multi-basin priorities: Anita said the current designs incorporate recommendations from the city’s multi-basin study, including enlarging pipes on 10th and 1st and adding a new outfall. She noted change orders already added water-management elements to the 1st/10th project and that the city identified River Park East and River Park West as priority multi-basin projects; the CRA has programmed $1,725,000 to advance those projects. Anita offered to circulate the multi-basin presentation and urged members to watch the CRA board meeting on March 26 for further prioritization.

Pilot, public art and FDOT limits: The advisory board learned the Design Walk pilot project (south of Central between 1st Avenue South and west of 10th) has been fully designed and is ready for construction when the CRA approves it; the pilot’s design aligns with the 10th/1st project because a new waterline will run through the adjacent alley. Anita also noted the Florida Department of Transportation has removed painted tactical street-art treatments in some locations and requires consistent pavement markings on state roadways, which constrains street-painted tactical art in areas controlled by FDOT (for example along US 41).

Business Improvement District and association stance: The master plan recommended forming a Business Improvement District (BID). Anita said staff met with the Naples Design District Association board but the association declined to pursue a BID at this time, in part because members were recovering from recent storms and did not want to add another assessment or tax on business owners. Anita explained a BID must be initiated by property owners within a defined boundary and requires majority support among affected owners.

Parcel on 10th Street and potential uses: The CRA purchased a parcel on 10th Street (referred to in the meeting materials as the 170 property). Board members asked whether the building could be repurposed for affordable housing rather than demolished for a parking lot. Anita said CRA direction will determine the property’s use and that conversion of the existing structure could be cost-prohibitive; she noted the current zoning allows 12 units per acre. The board discussed trade-offs and asked staff to include the parcel in upcoming capital-improvement planning discussions.

Traffic, connectivity and lighting: Members raised concerns about pedestrian access between the Design District and 5th Avenue across US 41 and asked whether rerouting or other traffic changes had been considered. Anita said mobility and FDOT studies have examined shifting traffic from US 41 to Goodlet, and the city is conducting a traffic study that will provide more detail; any rerouting would require coordination with FDOT and Collier County. Members also urged district-wide lighting and streetscape coordination after underground systems are completed.

Zoning overlay and comprehensive-plan timing: Anita recommended holding off on a Design District zoning overlay or other code changes until the city finishes its comprehensive-plan update, which provides the policy framework that zoning must follow. Staff said the comp-plan update is a roughly 22‑month process that started about a year ago, with state-agency review planned for the fall and adoption anticipated by year‑end if the schedule holds.

Other administrative items: the board asked for updates on Anthony Park security cameras (staff said there is no awareness of license-plate readers specifically), parking-garage counter reliability, and two new home-improvement grant applications (riprap and seawall). The CRA-advisory board will receive multi-basin and capital-improvement updates tied to CRA funding priorities at the CRA meeting on March 26.

What’s next: staff will circulate the multi-basin presentation and bring the 60% design package for the 10th/1st/12th project when ready; the CRA will set final priorities and funding at its March 26 meeting, and zoning or overlay work for the Design District should follow the comprehensive-plan update.