Collier County commissioners unanimously approved a private golf course on the 169-acre citrus grove off Sabal Palm Road Tuesday, but only after the developer agreed to remove 10 proposed guest cottages, prohibit future residential development on the property, and help fix drainage issues at a nearby subdivision.
The vote followed four-plus hours of presentations, discussion, and public comment featuring dozens of speakers. Opponents argued the course would disturb Florida panther habitat and benefit only a small group of wealthy members.
However, Commissioners said the revised plan came with substantially fewer impacts than an earlier plan for 423 homes. In January, commissioners voted 3-2 to postpone a decision on that proposal, which was led by Naples-area developer Jon Rubinton.
After that setback, the developer shifted focus to an 18-hole golf course with 10 short-term rental cottages, arguing it would cause far less traffic and environmental impacts. But Commissioner Rick LoCastro called the cottages a “deal breaker,” arguing they would take up more land, bring nighttime lighting and activity, and potentially interfere with wildlife moving through the area.
He also worried that allowing lodging could open a path to future residential development under Florida’s Live Local Act. The developer agreed to drop the cottages, and commissioners added a deed restriction barring residential development to their approval.
The developer has also pledged to design and manage the course to meet Audubon International’s Gold Signature Sanctuary standards. Al Dougherty, who spoke for the developer and said he had worked on 12 courses in the program, described plans to limit turf, use native plants, and design the course’s water management system with the certification in mind. The course has not yet been designed or certified.
Audubon International has no connection to the Audubon Society, a distinction multiple speakers sought to emphasize. Audubon Western Everglades executive director Bridget Washburn and Brad Cornell of Audubon Florida spoke against the proposal, citing potential runoff and the property’s ecological value.
Monica Higgins, who said she had worked on golf courses for more than 30 years, disputed the developer’s portrayal of the course as wildlife habitat. With mowing, irrigation and maintenance crews, it would be “an active production area,” she said.
Elizabeth Barrick, a Verona Walk resident, questioned who would benefit. “The people who are going to benefit from this golf course could all fit in this room,” she said, citing an estimate of 265 to 275 members.
One resident who lived nearby played footage from a trail cam mounted in her backyard, showing critically endangered Florida panthers passing her home several times recently.
County Development Review Director Jamie Cook confirmed that the property lies within a primary Florida panther habitat zone, but said panthers could still cross the land if it became a golf course. She added that panthers typically den in wetlands, not the kind of environment found in a citrus grove.
Following a line of questioning from Commissioner Dan Kowal, staff said the proposed golf course would actually be a more suitable wildlife habitat than the existing grove. However, opponents challenged claims that the course would improve conditions for wildlife.
Other residents questioned why the grove couldn’t be purchased through Conservation Collier, the county’s land conservation fund 77% of voters approved in 2020. Cook explained that only three acres of the 169-acre property contained native plants, and the cost to ecologically restore the property after decades of agricultural use would be high.
According to commissioners, the county did make the property owner a fair market offer, but the offer was declined. The exact amount offered was not clear. Currently, the property is home to South Naples Citrus Grove, one of the area’s last remaining groves. The business has been struggling as Florida’s citrus industry has been ravaged by a bacterial infection called citrus greening.
For Commissioner Bill McDaniel, a key selling point was the developer’s pledge to help address the persistent flooding and drainage issues at the nearby Tamarindo subdivision, which forced the county to stop issuing certificates of occupancy in August 2024.
The developer agreed to set up infrastructure that would address the flooding, though the estimated $500,000 cost would still be the responsibility of Tamarindo’s developer, Forestar. Commissioners noted that Forestar has repeatedly failed to come up with a solution that the Southwest Florida Water Management District will allow, despite repeated extensions.
McDaniel called the golf course “a fine compromise,” pointing to the promised drainage work as a major public good.
Commissioner Burt Saunders said he was “on the fence” because he was concerned about changing the county’s land-use plan and about neighbors losing the quiet enjoyment of their homes. He ultimately joined the unanimous vote after the developer agreed to the restrictions and stipulations negotiated by commissioners.