Big Development, Bigger Advance

On June 24, Collier County Commissioners unanimously approved an amendment that paves the way for up to 1,299 single- and multifamily homes on a 227-acre site just north of U.S. 41 East at Greenway and Fritchey Roads—closely adjacent to Fiddler’s Creek.

Affordable & Market‑Rate Mix

The proposed Greenway‑Fritchey Residential Overlay includes 260 affordable homes—about 20% of the total—targeted for buyers earning at or below 80% of Collier’s area median income (AMI), currently $113,600. These will be developed by Habitat for Humanity, while market-rate units will be led by private developer David Torres, as part of an ongoing partnership.

Environmental & Density Adjustments

  • The approval grants a density of up to 5.72 units per acre, under the 6.2‑unit‑per‑acre cap.

  • To accommodate development, planners approved reducing littoral (shoreline) planting buffer from 30% to 10%, sparking concerns over water-quality safeguards.

  • Audubon representatives note the importance of littoral zones for nutrient filtering and algae prevention—raising questions about balancing growth and ecology.

What’s Next: State & Public Review

This is step one. The state Department of Commerce will evaluate the amendment before it returns to the Collier Planning Commission and Board for two more hearings. A supermajority vote (4 of 5) will be required to finalize the plan.

Why It Matters for Naples

  • Workforce access: 260 income-restricted homes represent rare affordable ownership opportunities in Collier County.

  • Growth hotspot: Located near Fiddler’s Creek—one of the region’s most notable master‑planned communities—this project signals continued suburban expansion.

  • Environmental tension: The buffer reduction highlights ongoing land-use trade-offs in South Florida developments.