Rivergrass Lawsuit Settlement
Patricia Forkan | Published on 8/8/2023
The Collier League has been working for several years to stop sprawl and inappropriate development in parts of Eastern Collier County. A special task force was established within the Environmental Affairs Committee in order to devote time and expertise to comment on the first villages proposed under a new plan called the RLSA—Rural Lands Stewardship Area. Ave Maria was the first approved Town in the RLSA.
Our Task Force studied the RLSA and put together comments on Rivergrass, and subsequent applications for Longwater and Bellmar Villages, which we presented to both the Collier County Planning Commission as well as to the Board of County Commissioners. We argued that the developer’s plans for these villages did not fit with the requirements of the RLSA. The village centers were not walkable or centrally located, as required, with denser housing near the village center; wetlands were being impacted, Bellmar was a mere mile and a half from the panther preserve, and all three villages were to be built in primary panther habitat; and much more. The Planning Commission agreed with us and voted it down. Unfortunately, the Board of County Commissioners did not agree and approved it with some review left to County staff.
The Conservancy of SWFL sued Collier County to try to stop Rivergrass, the first of three planned villages. The developer later intervened in the lawsuit. Our Collier County League filed an Amicus Brief in support of the Conservancy’s lawsuit along with a dozen other civic and environmental groups. Years have gone by with more hearings for other RLSA developments and many new BCC officials have been elected. At last, some good news has come from discussions held by the Conservancy with the developer. They reached a settlement which was in the local news to help panthers and set aside more protected land.
The League is proud to have played a role in creating a better future for what is left in the wild.
Both The Florida Weekly and The Naples Daily News provide more settlement details.