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Commissioners advance five Conservation Collier "A‑list" parcels for appraisal and authorize ordinance rewrite
Summary
After debate over program complexity and public access, commissioners voted to authorize appraisals on five A‑list parcels and to begin rewriting Conservation Collier rules (eliminating B/C lists, evaluating mitigation‑bank options and public‑land management).
The Collier County Board of County Commissioners voted March 24 to authorize staff to advance appraisals on five properties ranked on the Conservation Collier A list and to begin a rewrite of the Conservation Collier ordinance that would eliminate separate B and C lists and examine options such as a wetlands mitigation bank and expanded public use of some county lands.
Jamie Cook, development review director, presented ranked properties (including a roughly 311‑acre sending lands parcel that would connect to the North Bellemeade Preserve and a series of smaller parcels on Marco Island) and described habitat values such as red‑cockaded woodpecker nests, panther telemetry use, and gopher tortoise habitat.
Commissioner McDaniel argued the program should focus only on A‑list parcels and eliminate B and C lists to avoid putting owners in a prolonged holding pattern; Commissioner Hall said the board should not pursue properties that lack clear public benefit. Commissioner Locastro moved the motion to give staff authority to proceed with appraisals for the five A‑list parcels; the motion carried (voice vote recorded as "Ayes have it").
Commissioner McDaniel also successfully moved a second action directing staff to initiate an ordinance rewrite to eliminate the B/C categories, procure a third‑party consultant to explore creating a mitigation bank, and evaluate increased utilization of county‑owned holdings (for example, by soliciting outfitters or environmental/educational partners). Jamie French, head of Growth Management, said staff would prepare an ITN and negotiate with potential partners and that the rewrite would be public and include management‑plan considerations for individual properties.
The board emphasized that ranking a parcel on the A list does not itself obligate purchase; staff will return with appraisals and purchase agreements for board consideration before any acquisitions are completed. Commissioners also discussed the need to maintain strict scoring and criteria if B and C lists are removed so the A list does not become diluted.
The motions recorded in the meeting file direct staff to proceed with appraisals on the five named A‑list parcels and to start the ordinance revision and consultant procurement; no funds for acquisitions were appropriated at this meeting.
