A Look Back: The Year in Review

It was a busy year for Marco Island, from the contentious - and now defunct - Short Term Rental program to the completion of a new fire station. Here is the first in a two-part series looking back at the issues residents, city officials and city councilors faced throughout the year.

Hideaway / Tigertail Projects Completed

 The Hideaway/Tigertail Renourishment Project was almost 56 months in the making and concluded in 2023. This project involved the Critical Wildlife Area in Big Marco Pass, also known as Sand Dollar Island.

Approximately 417,000 cubic yards of sand were removed from the northeast end of Sand Dollar Island. The removal dealt with the “sand trap” that had been growing and moving towards the mainland, choking off the entrance to the channel, which consists of Hideaway Beach on the inland side of the channel and Sand Dollar Island on the Marco River side. Originally, the channel provided the Marco River’s outlet to the Gulf of Mexico until hurricanes shifted it to its present course.

The closure also created an impact on keeping the entryway into Collier Creek open to approximately 30-35% of the boating traffic seeking access to the Marco River and points north and south of that intersection.

The cost for the project itself would total $3,330,000. However, after Hurricane Ian struck in late September 2022, the District approached the Collier County Coastal Advisory Committee in search of an additional $921,000 to address the damage related to the hurricane. The request was endorsed and then brought forward to the County Tourist Development Council, which serves as the portal agency for the expenditure of dollars collected from the Tourist Development Tax. They approved that request and the Board of County Commissioners concurred with that recommendation.

Continued monitoring and maintenance of Hideaway and Tigertail will be required as there are areas that remain in flux; Mother Nature’s tides and storms will continue to provide challenges.

Mixed-Use Project Approved at Turtle Parking Lot

A new mixed-use project was approved to be placed on the property currently occupied by the Turtle Parking Lot on South Collier Boulevard, near the intersection of Valley Avenue.

Those favoring the proposal included realtors and restaurant owners, who spoke during the public hearing at the Planning Board. Some residents questioned the impact of traffic flow on Muspa Way. That narrow alleyway runs parallel to South Collier Boulevard and directly behind the proposed mixed-use development, which will provide access for deliveries for the three proposed restaurants on the top floor as well as sanitation pickup for the entire facility.

The present Turtle Lot accommodates 80 vehicles. The developer proposed an increase of public parking to a total of 141 Pay For Parking spots, an increase of 61 spots for beach parking. 

The total number of spaces within the parking garage area will be 251, with 28 spaces for the fourteen residential units, 81 spots for the restaurant facilities, one spot for security and one for management/maintenance.

The Planning Board approved it by a 5-1 vote.

Durnford Way Project Opens

City council also saw the completion of the long-awaited improvement to Durnford Way Alley, which runs parallel to North Collier Boulevard from Amazon Court southerly to Saturn Court behind a number of commercial and restaurants.

Although the bids were received in 2021 and approved at the January 2022 council meeting, work didn’t begin until late August 2022. City officials pointed out issues in material shortages as well as unforeseen engineering issues. That work was finally completed in June of 2023.

The project involved the installation of a concrete noise and privacy wall along the .22-mile-long project the entire length of Durnford Way. In addition to the wall, the project included the installation of 40 dedicated parking spaces, stormwater enhancements, and security lighting. The entire length of that alleyway sees heavy use for deliveries to those commercial operations which front on Collier Boulevard and serve as a collection point for sanitation trucks. 

Marco Island Charter Middle School Graduates 25th Anniversary Class 

Parents, grandparents and friends packed the George Abounader gymnasium at the Marco Island Charter Middle School on June 1st to watch 104 young men and women take their seats to the cheers of those in attendance. They were welcomed by Middle School Board President Mr. David Lupo and Principal Mrs. Michele Wheeler of the school.

The students had the distinction of being the 25th graduating class of the Marco Island Charter Middle School as they graduated in the gymnasium named after longtime Principal George Abounader.

Look for Part Two of “A Look Back: The Year in Review” in the January 11^th edition of the Coastal Breeze News.