Loading...
CCLAAC Minutes 02/04/2026 (Draft)February 4, 2026 Page 1 MINUTES OF THE CONSERVATION COLLIER LAND ACQUISITION ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING Naples, Florida, February 4, 2026 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: Ron Clark Gary Bromley Rhys Watkins John Courtright Nick Pearson Austin Howell Oriany Brito Christopher Satter ALSO PRESENT: Sally Ashkar, Assistant County Attorney Summer Araque, Conservation Collier Environmental Supervisor Jamie Cook, Director of Development Review Melissa Hennig, Environmental Specialist, I Matthew Denison, Conservation Collier Development Review Manager February 4, 2026 Page 2 1. Roll Call Chair Lenhard called the meeting to order at 9:00 A.M. Roll call was taken and a quorum was established with 9 Members present. A. Approval of CCLAAC Members attending the meeting remotely All members were present in the conference room. Future Committee Member Kaylyn Glenn was also in attendance. Gilbert Baptiste was introduced as new Staff Member 2. Approval of Agenda Motion to approve the agenda to continue item #4 to the next meeting by Mr. Howell; Second by Mr. Courtright - Carried unanimously 9 – 0 3. Approval of the January 7, 2026, Meeting Minutes Motion to approve the minutes for the January 7, 2026, meeting as presented by Mr. Howell; Second by Mr. Pearson - Carried unanimously 9 – 0 4. Vote for Chair and Vice Chair Continued to next meeting. 5. 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.conservationcoller.com for information purposes. The report will be updated monthly (last updated 1/28/26) 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. Hennig presented the PowerPoint “Conservation Collier Acquisition Update – February 4, 2026” for information purposes. She noted: • A-List property appraisals continue with the activities either in the out to bid, Notice to Proceed or completed and under review stages. • The owner of the Sit parcel rejected the County’s offer a few cycles ago but then came back to the County. Per the Conservation Collier Purchasing Policy the Seller is now obtaining their own appraisal. • Several other applications were withdrawn by owners as other interested parties purchased their land. • The Board of County Commissioners (BCC) pulled several A-List properties in the I75 TPMA and placed them on the C-List for acquisition. Indications are they were concerned with initiating another multi parcel project without existing connectivity of initial parcels. During Committee discussion, regarding the properties in the I75 TPMA being placed on the C- list, it was noted: • The vote was unanimous among the Members of the BCC. • The I75 TPMA was developed in the direction of the BCC. February 4, 2026 Page 3 • Ms. Cook is meeting with those Members of the BCC who originally spearheaded the TPMA to determine the feasibility for further acquisitions in the area. 6. New Business A. Preserve Updates Victoria Carter, Preserve Manager, provided the following updates: Barfield Burrows • A Gopher Tortoise burrow survey was completed identifying 150 burrows with 120 occupied. • There is a hatchling in the Bald Eagles nest. • There is a native planting project planned for 2026. Pepper Ranch • Two active Bald Eagle nests have been spotted. • Exotic treatment is planned for 789 acres. • The FWC Willow reduction project was successful improving the habitat of 11 acres. Railhead Scrub • A Burrowing Owl was spotted on the property. • Staff is leading sunrise guided tours of the site. • Exotic treatment is planned for 117 acres. Angel Kelley, Land Manager provided the following updates on outreach including: • Sunrise guided tours are available at Railhead Scrub Preserve with other tours ongoing at the Nancy Payton, Caracara and the Robert H. Gore preserves. • Events at Leadership Collier and Swallow Tail Kite presentations, family camping at Pepper Ranch. • Participation in the Immokalee Cattle Drive and Jamboree at Roberts Ranch and FGCU learning events. B. Initial Criteria Screening Reports (ICSRs) and Rankings Ms. Hennig presented the following Reports and PowerPoints: 1. Harper Partnerships – NGGE Non TPMA “Conservation Collier Initial Criteria Screening Report – Harper Partnership, February 4, 2026.” The parcel is located on 80th Ave NE, is 1.14 acres and scored 179 out of 400. The property has an asking price of $20,000 and County Appraiser value of $47,800. Staff recommends that the parcel be placed on the C-List for acquisition as it small acreage and located between developed lots. Speaker Brad Cornell, Audubon Florida and Audubon of the Western Everglades supported Staff’s recommendation. Motion to place the application on the C-List for acquisition by Mr. Courtright; Second by Mr. Bromley - Carried unanimously 9 – 0 February 4, 2026 Page 4 2. Collier County Sending Lands (f.k.a. Hussey) “Conservation Collier Initial Criteria Screening Report – Collier County (f.k.a Hussey), February 4, 2026.” She noted: • The County acquired the parcel in 2020, after a settlement agreement in 2013 when the owners filed a Bert Harris claim against the County for a mining permit which was denied. The total acreage of the parcel is 967 acres in total. Prior to the 2013 settlement, the entire property was Sending Lands. After the settlement, it is now comprised of sending and receiving lands in the Rural Fringe Mixed District. • The County is now interested in selling the receiving lands of the parcel to potential developers and offered the 311.65 acres of sending lands to Conservation Collier. • The parcel offered to Conservation Collier is located on Richardson Way, is 311.65 acres, scored 260 out of 400, has an estimated previous selling price of $3,223,773 and County Appraiser value of $4,518,925. • Staff recommends that the parcel be placed on the A-List for acquisition. During Committee discussion, it was noted: • It would be beneficial to determine if the County is interested in selling the receiving area lands to the north which are part of the parcel. • Even with the sending lands designation, conventional zoning allows the area to be developed at 1 unit per 40 acres. • The sale price offered to Conservation Collier should be at the price per acre of the original acquisition by the County or the lowest appraised value, whichever is less. • The County has a precedent of paying Conservation Collier the price of the land when it was originally purchased if it is bought from the Program by other Departments for County use. • Lands designated as sending allows the County to strip the development credits and sell them if they desire. Speaker Brad Cornell, Audubon Florida and Audubon of the Western Everglades provided a brief history of the parcel noting the owner and the County were involved in litigation in 2002 on the creation of the Rural Fringe Mixed Use District and the County prevailed on the litigation. Additional litigation occurred in 2013 over the application for a mining permit and these lands were the result of the settlement. The parcel was subject to clear cutting of pine trees except for one minor portion in the westerly section due to red cockaded woodpecker’s being present in the area. The area is now comprised of cabbage palms while the pine trees are coming back. He supports Staff’s recommendation of the parcel being placed on the A- List for acquisition as it contains valuable environmental resources and it would be beneficial to determine the feasibility of the Program acquiring the Receiving Lands portion of the property. During Committee discussions it was noted: • There is language in the deeds for lands purchased in the program the Transportation Department may acquire the lands by paying the original purchase price of the property. February 4, 2026 Page 5 • If Conservation Collier were to acquire the property, the most recent sales price would be utilized in calculating the price of the transaction if the Transportation Department sought acquisition of some or all of the lands. Mr. Howell moved to place the application on the A-List for acquisition. Second by Mr. Courtright. Carried unanimously 9 – 0. The Committee recommended the Board of County Commissioners: 1. Sell the property to Conservation Collier at the original price the County paid for it, or the lowest appraised value, which ever is less. 2. Due to the environmental significance of the northern Receiving Lands portion of the property, this parcel should be included in the sale of lands to Conservation Collier. 3. Dr. Robert H. Gore Preserve TPMA a. Harper Partnership “Conservation Collier Initial Criteria Screening Report – Gore TPMA, Harper Partnership, LLC, February 4, 2026.” The parcel is located on 34th Ave SE, is 1.14 acres and scored 284 out of 400. The property has an asking price of $25,000 and County Appraiser value of $30,210. Staff recommends that the parcel be placed on the A-List for acquisition. Speaker Brad Cornell, Audubon Florida and Audubon of the Western Everglades supported Staff’s recommendation as the parcel as the lands in the area provide and ecological and environmental link to the Picayune State Forest and other sensitive lands. Mr. Howell moved to place the application on the A-List for acquisition. Second by Mr. Pearson. Carried unanimously 9 – 0. 4. Marco Island TPMA a. Kueffner Trust “Conservation Collier Initial Criteria Screening Report – Kim F. Kueffner Trust, February 4, 2026.” The parcel is located at the southwest corner of Watson Road and Inlet Dr., is 0.34 acres and scored 236 out of 400. The property has an asking price of $575,000 and County Appraiser value of $415,695. Staff recommends that the parcel be placed on the A-List for acquisition as the parcel is small however contains rare habitat. During Committee discussion it was noted: • The ecological values for the screening were lower due to the parcel being 100 percent upland. • The existing of Gopher Tortoise burrows and the parcels proximity to other properties with burrows makes it highly desirable for acquisition. • Concern on purchasing properties on Marco Island as scientific data indicates climate change may have a negative impact on the flooding potential of the area. • The likelihood of relocation of rare plants is low as the Program does not have the means for the endeavor. February 4, 2026 Page 6 Speaker Brad Cornell, Audubon Florida and Audubon of the Western Everglades noted during Hurricane Ian, when many areas were inundated with water on the island, this area with the shell mounds were a refuge for wildlife given the elevated lands. The area is important for Gopher Tortoises because if relocation occurs it would be to Glades County where the climate is colder and questionable if these tortoises would survive when relocated. He supports Staff’s recommendation of placing the property on the A-List for acquisition. Marissa Figeueroa, Audubon Florida noted there may be opportunities for partnering with the Naples Botanical Garden on rare plant endeavors. Mr. Courtright moved to place the application on the A-List for acquisition. Second by Ms. Brito. Carried unanimously 8 yes – 1 no. Mr. Watkins voted “no.” Speaker Richard Blonna, Marco Island noted preservation opportunities are important for Marco Island given the vulnerability of environmentally sensitive lands due to intense competition between real estate development and preservation. There are several other properties in the area acquired by the program allow for an approximate 3 mile ecological walk for the public. 5. North Belle Meade Preserve TPMA a. Bednar “Conservation Collier Initial Criteria Screening Report – North Belle Meade TPMA - Bednar, February 4, 2026.” The parcel is located East of Richardson Way and North of I-75, is 9.74 acres and scored 221 out of 400. The property has an asking price of $129,000 and County Appraiser value of $141,230. Staff recommends that the parcel be placed on the A-List for acquisition and some of the lands around the parcel are in conservation easements. Speaker Jeff Bednar the landowner, noted he is hoping the lands remain undeveloped as his trail cameras have capture more than 100 photos of Florida Panther, black bear, deer, etc. Mr. Satter moved to place the application on the A-List for acquisition. Second by Mr. Howell. Carried unanimously 9 – 0. 7. Subcommittee Reports A. Lands Evaluation & Management – Chair, Vacant – last meeting November 5, 2025, Next Meeting March 20, 2026, 1:00pm – 3:00pm. B. Outreach – Chair, John Courtright – Last meeting April 23, 2025, Next Meeting, April 2026 No update necessary. C. Ordinance Policy and Rules – Chair, Michele Lenhard - Last meeting December 18, 2023 February 4, 2026 Page 7 No update necessary. 8. Staff Communications to Committee A. Miscellaneous None B. BCC Items Related to Conservation Collier 1. Previously Heard a. 1/13/2026 - November and December 2025 AAL; Hendrix House IMP and naming the Black Bear Path Preserve b. 1/27/26 - Appoint members to the Land Acquisition Advisory Committee 2. Upcoming a. 2/10/2026 - Preserve Area Maintenance contract approval b. 2/24/2026 - Symphony Properties IMP and naming to Serenoa Preserve 9. Chair/Committee Member Comments Chair Lenhard requested Staff to notify the Committee when the Board of County Commissioners schedules review of the Hussy acquisition application. Chair Lenhard presented Mr. Clark with a plaque for his 4 years of service on the Committee and the Members recognized his service to the citizens of Collier County. 10. Public General Comments None 11. Staff Comments None 12. Next Meeting – March 4, 2026 There being no further business for the good of the County, the meeting was adjourned by order of the Chair at 10:52 a.m. Conservation Collier Land Acquisition Advisory Committee _________________________________ Michele Lenhard, Chair These minutes approved by the Committee on _________________________________________, as presented ___________ or as amended ___________.