Tamarindo Developer Granted Another Deadline Extension

Homebuilder D.R. Horton and developer Forestar are struggling to address persistent flooding in one of their Collier County subdivisions.

Tamarindo, a private community of 251 single-family homes on Collier Boulevard was built by D.R. Horton between 2022 and 2025. Homes started in the high $500,000s, with floor plans ranging from 1,670 to 2,400 square feet. The project’s developer was Forestar, in which D.R. Horton holds a majority stake.

However, construction had not yet finished before serious flooding problems began affecting both Tamarindo and nearby residents.

Judy Alander, who has lived on Amity Road since 2008, said her street never flooded significantly until Tamarindo was built. She claims that changed soon after Tamarindo was constructed, with rainfall now routinely leaving knee-deep water on her street.

“In my opinion, D.R. Horton doesn’t care about the quality of their product. Just check Google or Facebook for their reviews,” said Alander.

According to Jaime Cook, Division Director at Collier County’s Development Review, Tamarindo saw severe flooding in 2024 after Hurricanes Debby, Helene and Milton. In response, developers attempted to pump water from the neighborhood into the canal along Collier Boulevard — a move Cook said violated both county ordinance and an Environmental Resource Permit issued by the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD.)

Because of the violation, the county stopped issuing certificates of occupancy in August 2024 due to safety concerns.

Tamarindo applied for a permit modification the following month to address the flooding. But in the 20 months since, developers have not produced a plan that satisfies the SFWMD.

“Both the Water Management District and county staff have met with the developer and their consulting team at least eight times in an attempt to find a solution … the developer has not submitted a plan to either SFWMD or Collier County that has been able to be approved,” Cook told Coastal Breeze News.

“Since the flooding is a public safety issue, we are not issuing any C/Os until plans have been approved for the stormwater improvements,” said Cook.

According to SFWMD Public Information Coordinator Jason Schultz, SFWMD issued a permit to the developers to construct stormwater conveyance improvements to serve the Amity Road area.

However, multiple extensions have been granted in the last several months. The latest deadline, June 1, was again pushed back at the request of the developer, this time to December 5, 2026.

“Forestar has made good-faith efforts to identify a viable solution … Forestar requests the additional time to continue to work on a solution that is amenable both to Collier County and the District,” wrote Forestar’s attorney in the most recent extension application.

Alander finds the delays frustrating and says she wants the county to “hold developers’ feet to the fire” and deny additional subdivisions.

“It amazes me that Collier County continuously approves D.R. Horton to build developments, knowing there’s a problem with them,” she said.

Alander said 10 to 12 representatives from Tamarindo walked the property with her in January and promised to address the issues, but no action has been taken.

Cook said responsibility for resolving the flooding rests with Tamarindo’s developer.

“It is the developer’s responsibility, working with their engineer of record, to correct the flooding issues within the community and ensure the drainage system is working properly,” Cook said.

RWA Engineering, the project’s engineer, did not respond to a request for comment, nor did D.R. Horton. The Texas-based company claims to have been America’s largest new-home builder since 2002, and reports having built 1.2 million homes since its founding in 1978.