Collier Advances 1,299‐Home Plan Near Fiddler’s Creek, Includes 260 Affordable Units

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.