Proposed Sabal Palm Development Floods Community with Concerns

The development of nearly 423 homes in the Sabal Palm community of East Naples threatens to permanently alter the neighborhood with the loss of one of the last area orange groves, area flooding, and traffic concerns.  

“I’m wondering what they’re going to do with Sabal Palm Road,” said Judy White, a longtime resident and owner of Jade Orchids. “The people on the north side of the road have been here forever. That’s not fair. We like our property, our acreage, our elbow room,” White said as she chatted with neighbors walking their dogs and bringing their trash bins to the end of the road on a recent July weekend. 

Collier County Commissioners reviewed the development plans in a public meeting in May, and the Florida Department of Commerce was to be reviewing the growth plan amendment as of mid-July. This state review includes predominantly hurricane concerns and hazards with a closer proximity to the Gulf than this project, according to correspondence between Department of Commerce and resident Chris Briggs, the organizer of a community petition opposed to the residential redevelopment of South Naples Citrus Grove.  

Residents in the tight-knit community of Sabal Palm continued to express concerns in recent interviews, echoing public comment about environmental and wildlife concerns, among other concerns raised during the public hearing.  

The development is within County Commissioner Rick LoCastro’s district. He stressed that the County was not creating this; instead, an owner of the Grove wants the opportunity to sell to a developer.  

The approximately 170-acre South Naples Citrus Grove is owned by the Smits family, including only one member who lives locally and operates the Grove. The others live out of state. It has operated since the 1970s. 

For the development to continue, a change in the zoning is required for it to be considered a receiving area versus a sending area, which is less environmentally protected under the county’s codes. Density would be increased from one unit per 40 acres on the grove, which currently has one residential home, the grove, a popular farm stand, and farm structures. The density would increase to 2.5 homes per acre.  

The community would have what’s considered affordable housing, with 15 percent of homes to be townhomes available to people earning no more than 120 percent of Collier County area median income— so for people earning no more than about $113,000 annually. 

SWJR LLC, led by longtime local developer Jon Rubinton, is proposing the project. 

Owners of the grove did not return requests for comment. 

Their neighbors, however, have several alternative ideas if the family is open to them.  

Sell to Conservation Collier or the Florida Wildlife Corridor  

Collier County staff at one stage did not recommend approval of the project, according to county documents presented to the Planning Commission. But Michael Bosi, County Planning and Zoning Director, told County Commissioners that with density adjustments and affordable housing units that could be purchased versus rented, it could present unique benefits that other rental affordable housing units do not provide.  

Resident Christine Briggs said many more residents had wished to make public comments, but the item was moved from earlier in the agenda to later. She created a petition which continues to garner signatures from other residents opposed to the project.  

Nearby Tamarindo residents endure ongoing flooding that has exacerbated water flow concerns throughout the Sabal Palm area, halting ongoing development there.  

The Citrus Grove is located right next to an entrance to Picayune Strand State Forest. Across the street, wading birds are often watched by passersby of the wetlands. Wildfires are a common concern for the area.  

Though meeting discussions described roadway improvements, residents are not sure if it will be an improvement or disservice to the residents, drivers, and wildlife.  

Viktor Jarikov, who operates a fish rescue and business, Fish Story Aquarium, in the Sabal Palm neighborhood, said the development of homes will definitely not be good for the biodiversity of the area. Animals share space better with a citrus grove than hundreds of homes, Jarikov noted.  

Water flow has continued to get worse, they say, since the development of Hacienda Lakes.  

Meanwhile, draining presents a challenge because if done incorrectly, there’s a risk to desalinizing Rookery Bay, notes Briggs. 

She had hoped that people would find interest too in the citrus grove, with it being such an iconic part of Old Florida culture, to teach children for generations to come and offer fresh orange juice.  

“But one of the biggest things you have to think about is how are they going to expand Sabal Palm Road?” pondered White. “Where’s that land going to come from? All those little homes are close to the road,” she said. “If the plan is to take land from the north side, it’s going to be bloody blue murder,” White said.