Backup Documents 10/26/2010 Item #10DHIM
COLLIER COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS — OCTOBER 26, 2010
AGENDA ITEM 10.D.
My name is Wallace L. Lewis, Jr. and with my sister, Marian H. Gerace, we own and have owned the 305 f acre property
that is abutting and immediately west of the existing Collier County landfill site, for over 50 years.
County Staff approached us, sending representatives to meet us in Miami, approximately 4 years ago with the proposition
of purchasing our property for a horizontal expansion of the landfill. Discussions were led by County Manager Jim Mudd
who had great foresight in seeking to address the long term needs of the County. Discussions continued and the County
recently obtained appraisals for the acquisition of the property and to aid in establishing and confirming a purchase price.
Yet all documentation provided to the public never, to the best of our knowledge, has included this option. Instead Staff
has advised the public that the only alternative to vertical expansion is a new landfill which may be difficult to permit, that
such permitting could be expected to take up to 20 years, and the associated costs of permitting and development may cost
up to $150 million dollars.
The proposed Collier County Landfill Expansion is a short term solution. The proposed Collier County Landfill
Expansion is a short term fix to the requirements of Collier County to comply with planning criteria for long -range
solutions to the County's solid waste disposal needs. The vertical landfill plan of the County is not a realistic solution that
fits the long -term needs of Collier County; it is only a short-term unrealistic solution to planning pressures. If Mount
Collier were actually rising today, it would adversely and fundamentally alter the landscape of the County and it would be
met with enormous opposition. Because it is theoretically several decades away, it is merely passing the solid waste
solution problem, or the horrendous implementation of Mount Collier, on to the next generation.
The Staff projections for required solid waste landfill capacity are based on the unusually low disposal rate of the previous
three years, which although benefiting from recycling, is more likely a result of the depressed local construction industry,
which has historically contributed a much larger percentage of the absorbed capacity. This suggests that the projected
capacity may be a fraction of the current projections and would place the County in the undesirable position of seeking a
new solution which may include a new landfill site, in as little as 10 years. Meanwhile, the horizontal expansion would
provide 300% more capacity, and be a long term solution for generations to come.
Staff has downplayed the impacts of the proposed vertical expansion.
Maybe the greatest impact will be to the public's general perception of Naples which will have as its most visible
landmark and signature, a 20 -story towering mountain of trash punctuated by a crown of circling vultures and
scavengers which will be visible for many miles; from the high -rises along the beaches in Naples, Pelican Bay and
Marco Island to automobiles traveling on CR 951 and 1 -75 to the residences in Golden Gate Estates. The proposed
200 foot mountain would be over 30 times the size of the infamous Mount Trashmore on the East Coast of Florida
and would present a "billboard" top width of nearly % mile. It is most important for Staff to undertake a visualization
study of these impacts and share it with the public and all interested parties.
Engineering for height entails greater risk of failure; and obtaining permitting of this option is not a certainty and
there are additional development and ongoing greater operating costs associated with the vertical expansion.
• The trash mounds will be visible open sores with tractors crawling over and pushing trash for the next 50 years, when
they are proposed to be grassed in.
• While the existing landfill is extensively protected by surrounding "tree" wind breaks (like farm fields), the additional
height will make the landfill fully exposed to winds, storms and hurricanes which will carry debris and smells for
great distances.
to 2 -- Zolb
I top
The original sales price proposed was around $63 million dollars, but has dropped to less than a third of this price to
around $20 million with associated financing considerations / terms, all reflective of the local economic downturn. The
price is roughly$1.50 per square foot or approximately$65,000 per acre. This is a very unique opportunity to acquire the
property at its lowest price. The local economy will rebound and land values will as well. Immediate savings would be
gained by less expensive horizontal landfill costs.
It is important to note that the County Transportation plans project a need of 30±acres from this same parcel for right-of-
way and drainage to support the Wilson Boulevard — Benfield Road I-75 overpass; and, the South Florida Water
Management District/Big Cypress Basin need for a minimum of 12 acres of drainage right-of-way for their Golden Gate
Canal Diversion project which hopes to be under construction in 2013. So there are multiple governmental entities which
have a vested interest in the acquisition of the property and which would greatly benefit from acquiring the property in the
current market and prior to the owners' completion of initiated permitting an alternative development. Staff should
evaluate and propose a comprehensive solution inclusive of the required needs for solid waste capacity,transportation and
drainage/water use.
Permitting: It has been widely reported that only a singular new landfill has been permitted in Florida in the last 20 years;
in large measure due to the challenges of permitting. However, there have been numerous and continual permitting of
amendments for horizontal expansions of existing landfills. The existing 300+ acre landfill parcel was created from a
singular section of land. The adjacent 300+ acre parcel is the balance of the original section and they share common
geophysical traits and features.
Watershed and environmental considerations have been well documented through the property's Joint ACOE/SFWMD
Environmental Resource Permit process for the Century Park Center project and are measurable and have been quantified.
These considerations can be addressed by offsite mitigation either utilizing a small portion of the existing credits
originating from the prudently land banked acquisitions of the Pepper Ranch and the Starnes Property,or can be mitigated
offsite through mitigation banks or a combination of both.
The horizontal expansion can be permitted.
While the above has attempted to outline an additional option and to share it with the public,we also want to acknowledge
our own interest in the proposal that goes beyond the sale of the property. Our property shares the greatest length of
common boundary (approximately one mile) with the landfill which arguably makes it one of the most affected by the
proposed vertical expansion. The vertical expansion will significantly and negatively impact the value of our property, for
which we may be forced to seek compensation should the vertical expansion move forward.
We hope that by bringing this information to the public that the horizontal expansion option can be included in the
discussion as a solution for solving multi•le ion!term needs of Collier County.
Collier County Landfill:
300 +/- Acres
Lewis / Gerace Parcel:
300 +/- Acres
< J1-I5 I
COl lsr Blvd. / CR 951
LOCATION AND AERIAL MAP
COLLIER COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS — OCTOBER 26, 2010
AGENDA ITEM 10.D.
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� /OD
My name is Wallace L. Lewis, Jr. and with my sister, Marian H. Gerace, we own and have owned the 305 t acre property
that is abutting and immediately west of the existing Collier County landfill site, for over 50 years.
County Staff approached us, sending representatives to meet us in Miami, approximately 4 years ago with the proposition
of purchasing our property for a horizontal expansion of the landfill. Discussions were led by County Manager Jim Mudd
who had great foresight in seeking to address the long term needs of the County. Discussions continued and the County
recently obtained appraisals for the acquisition of the property and to aid in establishing and confirming a purchase price.
Yet all documentation provided to the public never, to the best of our knowledge, has included this option. Instead Staff
has advised the public that the only alternative to vertical expansion is a new landfill which may be difficult to permit, that
such permitting could be expected to take up to 20 years, and the associated costs of permitting and development may cost
up to $150 million dollars.
The proposed Collier County Landfill Expansion is a short term solution. The proposed Collier County Landfill
Expansion is a short term fix to the requirements of Collier County to comply with planning criteria for long -range
solutions to the County's solid waste disposal needs. The vertical landfill plan of the County is not a realistic solution that
fits the long -term needs of Collier County; it is only a short-term unrealistic solution to planning pressures. If Mount
Collier were actually rising today, it would adversely and fundamentally alter the landscape of the County and it would be
met with enormous opposition. Because it is theoretically several decades away, it is merely passing the solid waste
solution problem, or the horrendous implementation of Mount Collier, on to the next generation.
The Staff projections for required solid waste landfill capacity are based on the unusually low disposal rate of the previous
three years, which although benefiting from recycling, is more likely a result of the depressed local construction industry,
which has historically contributed a much larger percentage of the absorbed capacity. This suggests that the projected
capacity may be a fraction of the current projections and would place the County in the undesirable position of seeking a
new solution which may include a new landfill site, in as little as 10 years. Meanwhile, the horizontal expansion would
provide 300% more capacity, and be a long tern solution for generations to come.
Staff has downplayed the impacts of the proposed vertical expansion.
Maybe the greatest impact will be to the public's general perception of Naples which will have as its most visible
landmark and signature, a 20 -story towering mountain of trash punctuated by a crown of circling vultures and
scavengers which will be visible for many miles; from the high -rises along the beaches in Naples, Pelican Bay and
Marco Island to automobiles traveling on CR 951 and 1 -75 to the residences in Golden Gate Estates. The proposed
200 foot mountain would be over 30 times the size of the infamous Mount Trashmore on the East Coast of Florida
and would present a "billboard" top width of nearly %2 mile. It is most important for Staff to undertake a visualization
study of these impacts and share it with the public and all interested parties.
• Engineering for height entails greater risk of failure; and obtaining permitting of this option is not a certainty and
there are additional development and ongoing greater operating costs associated with the vertical expansion.
The trash mounds will be visible open sores with tractors crawling over and pushing trash for the next 50 years, when
they are proposed to be grassed in.
• While the existing landfill is extensively protected by surrounding "tree" wind breaks (like farm fields), the additional
height will make the landfill fully exposed to winds, storms and hurricanes which will carry debris and smells for
great distances.
(O/SCI°
The original sales price proposed was around $63 million dollars, but has dropped to less than a third of this price to
around $20 million with associated financing considerations/terms, all reflective of the local economic downturn. The
price is roughly$1.50 per square foot or approximately$65,000 per acre. This is a very unique opportunity to acquire the
property at its lowest price. The local economy will rebound and land values will as well. Immediate savings would be
gained by less expensive horizontal landfill costs.
It is important to note that the County Transportation plans project a need of 30±acres from this same parcel for right-of-
way and drainage to support the Wilson Boulevard — Benfield Road 1-75 overpass; and, the South Florida Water
Management District/Big Cypress Basin need for a minimum of 12 acres of drainage right-of-way for their Golden Gate
Canal Diversion project which hopes to be under construction in 2013. So there are multiple governmental entities which
have a vested interest in the acquisition of the property and which would greatly benefit from acquiring the property in the
current market and prior to the owners' completion of initiated permitting an alternative development. Staff should
evaluate and propose a comprehensive solution inclusive of the required needs for solid waste capacity,transportation and
drainage/water use.
Permitting: It has been widely reported that only a singular new landfill has been permitted in Florida in the last 20 years;
in large measure due to the challenges of permitting. However, there have been numerous and continual permitting of
amendments for horizontal expansions of existing landfills. The existing 300+ acre landfill parcel was created from a
singular section of land. The adjacent 300+ acre parcel is the balance of the original section and they share common
geophysical traits and features.
Watershed and environmental considerations have been well documented through the property's Joint ACOE/SFWMD
Environmental Resource Permit process for the Century Park Center project and are measurable and have been quantified.
These considerations can be addressed by offsite mitigation either utilizing a small portion of the existing credits
originating from the prudently land banked acquisitions of the Pepper Ranch and the Starnes Property,or can be mitigated
offsite through mitigation banks or a combination of both.
The horizontal expansion can be permitted.
While the above has attempted to outline an additional option and to share it with the public,we also want to acknowledge
our own interest in the proposal that goes beyond the sale of the property. Our property shares the greatest length of
common boundary (approximately one mile) with the landfill which arguably makes it one of the most affected by the
proposed vertical expansion. The vertical expansion will significantly and negatively impact the value of our property,for
which we may be forced to seek compensation should the vertical expansion move forward.
We hope that by bringing this information to the public that the horizontal expansion option can be included in the
discussion as a solution for solvin: multiple lon: term needs of Collier County.
Collier County Landfill:
300 +/-Acres
Lewis/Gerace Parcel:
300 +/-Acres
<--1I-75
Collier Blvd. / CR 951
'LOCATION AND AERIAL MAP
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