More affordable condos and market-rate apartments in North Naples are approved by Collier commissioners.

Affordable housing is coming to North Naples.

On Tuesday, Collier County commissioners unanimously approved adding 120 multifamily units to the Tree Farm Mixed-Use Planned Unit Development, including 58 for low-income families, according to a recent article by Laura Layden of Naples Daily News

Nearly 59 acres at the northwest corner of Collier Boulevard and Immokalee Road were amended.

Habitat for Humanity will stack condos for low-income housing. They’ll go to low-income households.

Habitat’s goal is to help low-income working families become homeowners, so inhabitants will own the units.

County median household income is $98,600. A four-person household earning $75,450 at 80% or less would qualify for the new Habitat homes.

The 1,200-square-foot residences will have three bedrooms and two bathrooms.

The remaining 62 units will be built by a private developer at market rates for teachers, firefighters, nurses, and police personnel.

Habitat for Humanity and White/Peterman Properties petitioned the county to increase the maximum dwelling units in the planned unit development from 460 to 580. Since 2007, the project has been altered.

Habitat uses density bonus for affordable housing

Habitat used the county’s Affordable Housing Density Bonus Program. Habitat didn’t apply for the maximum three dwelling units per acre, which might have allowed for 741 homes.

The applicants’ Naples land use attorney, Rich Yovanovich, said the new condos and apartments won’t increase the development’s peak-hour trip cap because more concentrated commercial uses were eliminated.

The recent Live Local Act allows affordable housing to be built on commercially zoned property without public hearings, a rigorous review process, or concessions to the surrounding communities. The applicants could have changed course and built many more residential units.

He argued the proposal would allow larger buildings with increased density, blowing past the trip cap, and requiring only administrative approval by county staff of a site development plan.

Commissioner Burt Saunders wanted neighbors who opposed the change in residential density due to traffic concerns to understand that developers and landowners could have sought something much more attractive for themselves and much less attractive for nearby communities.

“This is a fairly limited project,” he said.

Condos will give ‘significant yield’ for affordable housing.

The county’s planning director, Mike Bosi, told the board that few developers have used the density bonus program for affordable housing, which Habitat proposes to create.

“They are working within the lines that we have long established for how to raise density,” he said.

Bosi stressed that stormwater, transportation, and other county departments approved the application.

They’re adding 120 residential units without requesting more traffic. That’s important for the ask.”

He added that increasing density will provide “significant yield” in affordable housing, which is “desperately needed” in the area.

Bosi added that the location is in a “activity center,” where more commercial and residential development is expected and wanted.

He said it will reduce county commuting times by putting inhabitants closer to jobs and commodities and services.

Habitat collaborated with neighbors to reduce objections.

The petition was supported by Esplanade Golf & Country Club homeowners association director Kathleen Sharpe.

She said Habitat and its development team and partners addressed the community’s concerns, mostly regarding traffic, density, and buffering, despite the projects’ proximity.

“At this point, we support the project,” Sharpe added.

Public reactions were silent on the request.

Collier County Planning Commission recommended approval.

Commissioner Chris Hall approved the petition.

After the decision, Habitat CEO Lisa Lefkow said in a phone interview that the group had intended to build 120 units on the 2020-purchased land. White/Peterman Properties offered to buy a portion of the land to create new rentals next to their 2022 Mark Lane Apartments.

“This is the end result of this unique, for-profit and nonprofit partnership,” she remarked.

What follows?

Next comes site plan approval, which takes months.

Lefkow stated he hopes to “go vertical” in 2025.

“Much of our building has been on the east side of town, or in Golden Gate city,” she remarked. We’ve only built two neighborhoods north of Golden Gate Parkway.

Site work could begin late summer.

“The demand is huge,” Lefkow remarked. “These units will fill easily. Market rate, critical people, or Habitat dwellings.”

Based on its design, the Habitat project will be the second in Collier County.

The first families moved in this weekend after the first building was completed. It’s really well welcomed. “Location, location,” Lefkow said.

The recent article can be found on Naples Daily News

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