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Naples reviews draft 'Naples 2045' plan, adds resiliency element and seeks clearer metrics
Summary
Consultants and city staff presented a reorganized draft of Naples 2045 that adds a standalone resiliency element, ties vision themes into 10 statutory elements, and proposes new 'actions' to make the plan implementation‑focused. Council pressed for clearer metrics, neighborhood plans and how county coordination and state law could affect implementation.
Consultants from Johnson Engineering and Clarion Associates walked Naples City Council through a working draft of the Naples 2045 comprehensive plan update on April 13, outlining a reorganized document that carries vision themes through each element and adds resiliency as a new, optional element.
Laura Dejohn of Johnson Engineering told the council the draft follows Florida statutory structure but adds an explicit resiliency chapter and page‑level markers showing where vision priorities are carried forward. Leanne King of Clarion Associates said the team has added ‘‘actions’’ — implementation steps intended to make promises in the plan more actionable — and is introducing icons to flag which vision theme ties to each policy.
Council and staff focused their questions on three implementation areas: metrics and KPIs to measure progress, how to avoid obsolete or rapidly changing maps (like seagrass beds) being treated as permanent plan elements, and coordination with Collier County on housing and other shared issues. Several members asked that the council see more precise definitions for words such as ‘‘small‑town charm,’’ ‘‘placekeeping’’ and ‘‘Green Jewel’’ so those phrases are enforceable rather than ambiguous.
On housing, consultants said the draft largely carries forward the jointly prepared city‑county housing element and adds limited new language encouraging philanthropic partners for affordable housing. City staff and council raised questions about the city’s capacity to execute any new action items and advised leaning on county and regional partners for programs requiring specialized staff or federal grant administration.
On resiliency, Erin Dady (subconsultant) summarized a new element that directs the city to integrate future flood‑risk and heat projections into capital planning, evaluate neighborhood vulnerabilities, and expand public outreach and education for property‑level adaptation. Council members asked for more distinct “actions” tied to responsible departments and for an annual reporting cadence so elected officials could track progress between statutorily required plan updates.
City staff said the draft will be revised to add definitions, tighten cross‑references, update maps as needed, and return to the Planning Advisory Board for transmittal on May 13 before coming back to council for transmission to state reviewers later this spring. Staff and consultants emphasized the draft is in progress and solicited additional direction from council on whether to strengthen any specific policy areas before transmittal.
What’s next: staff will return with updated definitions and cross‑references and will present the draft to the Planning Advisory Board for a May 13 transmittal hearing; council will see the transmission package at a June meeting before the plan goes to state review.
