Strategic Planning Needed More Than Ever | Opinion

As I sit here this evening and recall the projections regarding growth that would occur along the Collier Blvd and 41 corridors in our section of the county, I remember doubting some of those projections. The other big growth potential was projected along the eastern section of the county. Today, the City of Naples is approaching build out and is now going through a redevelopment of sorts where smaller homes are being replaced by larger ones along some of its most iconic neighborhoods. Just take a ride up through Gulf Shore Boulevard North and see some of those changes.

New residents from the east coast of Florida often share their experiences of the dense development in Broward, Palm Beach, and Dade Counties. They speak about how almost every inch of grass has been replaced by concrete or asphalt, and the requirement for street lighting has taken a back seat to the overwhelming illumination given off by signage on commercial and retail buildings.

Mind you, no one is advocating for a moratorium on growth or a restriction on building; instead, we are encouraging another look at the requirements for better landscape buffering, public amenities, side yard setbacks, and a review of signage standards.

All of these items will help to ensure we are not going down the same pathway as our friends on the east coast of the state. You only have to try and navigate roadways such as Pines Boulevard or University Drive in Broward County to witness what is lurking on our doorsteps if we do not quickly address some of these issues. 

Unfortunately, we may have waited too long regarding these items, as many plans that were previously an idea on a developer’s drawing boards for a number of these projects along the 951 corridor and east and west on 41 have become a reality. The population explosion between the Jolley Bridge and the I-75 intersection on Collier Blvd (SR 951), which was estimated at between 20 and 30,000 more residents only ten to twenty years ago, is now becoming a reality.

Couple that with the eruption of commercial development at or near the 951/41 intersection, and you can understand the concern most reasonable people might have feared just a few years ago, given the history of development here in the state of Florida.

We’ve just come off another busy season since I came here in 1987, and no one expects that the crush of visitors between November and April will subside in future years. Instead, it will continue to grow. What is also in evidence is that they are coming earlier and leaving later, which is good for our businesses, but will definitely put increased pressure on our infrastructure.

Never in our history has it been more important to have local, county, and state leaders come together to help deal with this increasing demand on the communities we live in. How our communities will look in the future depends on what we do to manage this onslaught of development.

Another important factor is how to protect a valuable resource often overlooked by decision-makers. How do we protect our source of drinking water in the future?

At the present time, the drinking water source for Marco Island lies directly within the area known as “ground-zero” for commercial growth. The development around the area known as Marco Lakes and Henderson Creek is directly adjacent to our water supply. Many are concerned regarding the impact of runoff of pollutants into the aquifer and the surrounding areas.

The explosion of commercial and residential growth around the area abutting our drinking water supply at the Marco Lakes area near the intersection of Collier Blvd and SR41 should continue to be one of the highest priorities facing this balance between growth and the environment. 

Tens of millions of dollars are being pumped into this area for improvements in intersections and roadways to handle the projections for growth in the future, as proof of the anticipated onslaught of development.

Learning from the errors of others and putting safeguards in place to protect the environment while maintaining a high standard for “curb appeal” for future commercial and residential development must continue to be a priority in the future.

Setting the bar just a little higher for those that would develop here in the county and on the island is nothing to be ashamed of; I only hope we have the vision and courage to do so.