CCLAAC Minutes 11/06/2024 Draft November 6, 2024
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MINUTES OF THE CONSERVATION COLLIER LAND ACQUISITION
ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING
Naples, Florida, November 6, 2024
LET IT BE REMEMBERED, the Conservation Collier Land Acquisition Advisory
Committee in and for the County of Collier, having conducted business herein, met on this
date at 9:00A.M. in REGULAR SESSION at the Growth Management Department Building,
2800 North Horseshoe Drive, Naples Florida with the following members present:
CHAIR: Michele Lenhard
VICE CHAIR: Ron Clark
Gary Bromley
Rhys Watkins
John Courtright
Nick Pearson (Excused)
Austin Howell
Oriany Brito (Excused)
Christopher Satter
ALSO PRESENT: Summer Araque, Environmental Supervisor, Conservation Collier
Jamie Cook, Director, Development Review Division
Sally Ashkar, Assistant County Attorney
Melissa Hennig, Environmental Specialist, I
Kathlene Drew, Administrative Support Specialist, II
November 6, 2024
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1. Roll Call
Chair Lenhard called the meeting to order at 9:00A.M. Roll call was taken and a quorum was established
with 7 Members present.
A. Approval of CCLAAC Members attending the meeting remotely
All Members were present in the Conference Room
2. Approval of Agenda
Mr. Watkins moved to approve the Agenda. Second by Mr. Bromley. Carried unanimously 7 – 0.
3. Approval of October 2, 2024 Meeting Minutes
Mr. Clark moved to approve the minutes of the October 2, 2024 meeting as presented. Second by Mr.
Bromley. Carried unanimously 7 – 0.
4. Old Business
A. Acquisition Updates - Current Acquisition Status report updated monthly in advance of CCLAAC
meeting provided as part of meeting packet and under Acquisition News at
www.conservationcollier.com for information purposes. The report will be updated monthly (last
updated October 28, 2024) including parcels the County has acquired to date, offers made by the
County, pending acquisitions and those properties where the owner withdrew the application.
Ms. Araque provided the PowerPoint “Acquisition Updates as of October 28, 2024” and noted:
A total of 5,031 acres has been acquired by the Program since 2004.
Cycle 10, 11A – All properties acquired.
Cycle 11B – 9 properties acquired totaling 118 acres, 1 remaining (1.14 acres).
Cycle 12A – 21 properties acquired for a total of 77 acres, 8 acquisitions for 160 acres pending.
Cycle 12B – 13 properties accepted for a total of 756 acres.
2024 Cycle – 1 property proposed for acquisition (Williams Farm) totaling 1,410 acres.
During discussion, the following was noted the Williams Farm acquisition is in the due diligence phase
with soil and groundwater testing next update February or March.
5. New Business
A. RFMU Transfer of Development Rights presentation – Jaime Cook, Director of Development
Review
Ms. Cook presented the PowerPoint “Overview of Rural Fringe Mixed Use District – November 6,
2024” for information purposes highlighting:
The original plan was adopted in 2002 and the lands were divided into 3 areas: Receiving Lands
(22,000 acres); Neutral Lands (10,000 acres) and Sending Lands (42,000 acres).
The plan operates as a Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) program where Sending Lands
are the highest environmental value, Neutral Lands areas comprised of a high ratio of native
vegetation and Receiving Lands which are the most appropriate for development
Allowed uses in Sending Lands include agriculture, single family residential (SFR), passive
recreational uses, essential services and parks. The density for SFR is 1 unit per 40 acres or 1
unit for a non-conforming lot.
Allowed uses for Neutral lands included agriculture, single family residential (1 unit per 5 acres),
staff housing, family care, farm labor housing, essential services, park, and cluster housing with
1 acre lots,
November 6, 2024
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Allowed uses in Receiving Lands include agriculture, single family residential, multifamily
residential, staff housing, family care, farm labor housing, essential services, parks, 1 unit per 5
acres, TDR program 1 unit/acre (with density bonuses of 10 percent per acre for preservation of
native vegetation), affordable housing 12.2 units per acre (upon rezone and agreement). The
minimum project size is 40 acres for TDR program.
TDR base credits are 2 per 5 acres of land or a non-conforming lot. Credits may not be severed
from lands where a conservation easement is in place.
Additional development credits for environmental restoration and maintenance (3 credits per 5
acres maximum but no less than 0.2 credits per acre. Legal non-conforming lots greater than 5
acres – 2 credits. Conditions include:
Restoration and Management Plan (RMP) must be accepted by the County
RMP must include a Listed Species Management Plan
RMP must remain in place (with a letter of credit or financial security) until:
Ecological and hydrological functionality has been achieved
Property is conveyed to a County/State/Federal Agency
Additional credits also available for conveyance of lands subject to the environmental restoration
obtained credits, 1 credit per 5 acres or 1 credit per legally nonconforming parcel. The
conveyance must be fee simple title to a federal, state, or local governmental agency or to a not-
for-profit entity or land trust by gift.
There have been 20 entitled projects in Receiving Lands with 1,102.32 base credits, 2,104.74
bonus credits redeemed for a total of 3,207.08
During Committee discussion it was noted:
If properties are not maintained after restoration, Code Enforcement and the Collier County
Planning Commission enforce the requirements.
Previously, if Conservation Collier purchased Sending Lands, the development credits were
extinguished, however recent changes to the Ordinance allow them to be retained at the direction
of the Board of County Commissioners.
No 40 acre lots have been developed in the Sending Lands.
Speaker
Brad Cornell, Audubon of the Western Everglades/Audubon Florida noted it’s beneficial for the
properties to be acquired by the Program as they provide restoration opportunities for areas important to
listed species, hydrology and aids in reducing risks of wildfires.
B. Initial Criteria Screening Reports (ICSRs) and Rankings
1. Wilson – North Belle Meade Preserve TPMA
Ms. Hennig presented the “Conservation Collier Land Acquisition Program Initial Criteria
Screening Report Wilson.” The parcel is 5 acres in size, received a score of 221out of 400 and has
an assessed value of $63,250. She noted only parcels without conservation easements in place are
being targeted by the Program and Staff recommends the property be placed on the A-List for
acquisition.
Mr. Howell moved to place the parcel on the A-List for acquisition. Second by Mr. Bromley.
Carried unanimously 7 – 0.
6. Subcommittee Reports
A. Lands Evaluation & Management – Chair, Ron Clark – Last meeting June 5, 2024
No update necessary.
November 6, 2024
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B. Outreach – Chair, John Courtright – Last meeting June 13, 2024
No update necessary.
C. Ordinance Policy and Rules – Chair, Michele Lenhard - Last meeting December 18, 2023
No update necessary.
7. Coordinator Communications
A. Miscellaneous
Ms. Araque reported:
A new Environmental Specialist II has been added to Staff.
Pepper Ranch Preserve is open with a new camp host on site.
B. BCC Items Related to Conservation Collier
1. Previously Heard
a. 10/22/2024
1. Purchase Agreement – Gore – Dennison
2. Purchase Agreement – Symphony Properties
3. Haven at North Naples Donation Agreement – Gore & Winchester Head
4. Conservation Collier Annual Report
5. Ranking of September 2024 AAL
6. Railhead Exceptional Benefits Ordinance – Ms. Araque noted the BCC approved the
application per the Transportation Department’s request
2. Upcoming
a. 11/12/2024
1. Purchase Agreements – Panther Walk – Ngo/Hynh/Lieu, Stone, & Vikon
b. 12/10/2024
1. Purchase Agreement – Gore – Descoteau; and Winchester Head Fernandez
2. Railhead Scrub Preserve Land Management Plan
8. Chair/Committee Member Comments
Chair Lenhard requested Staff to provide updates on any Exceptional Benefits applications given they are
no longer reviewed by the Committee.
Mr. Satter provided an update on monitoring of Florida Panthers noting:
Tracking collars are utilized to monitor the species, and 7 devices are currently deployed.
The region is monitored twice weekly by aerial flights and the tracking devices provide valuable
information on movement patterns, habitat usage, survival rates and allows for 5 hour updates.
The devices deploy a mortality signal if no movement of the cat is detected for more than 12 hours.
There have been 26 vehicle collisions to date in 2024 compared to 13 all last year.
Recently, a 10 year old panther was victim of a vehicle collision and it was transported to the
University of Florida for surgery which was successful. The cat will rehab at Zoo Tampa at Lowry
Park and be transferred to a wildlife facility. Indications are it has the potential for release back into
the wild.
9. Public General Comments
None
November 6, 2024
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10. Staff Comments
None
11. Next Meeting – December 4, 2024
There being no further business for the good of the County, the meeting was adjourned by order of
the chair at 10:12AM.
Conservation Collier Land Acquisition Advisory Committee
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Michele Lenhard, Chair
These minutes approved by the Committee on________________ as presented_______ or as amended
___________.