The town of Ave Maria to expand by about 1,000 acres

Ave Maria will grow by around 1,000 acres.

The town’s size was increased to 5,000 acres, the maximum allowed under county rules, on Tuesday by Collier County commissioners, according to a recent article by Laura Layden of Naples Daily News

Ave Maria University is excluded from the size. The town’s 1,000-acre campus and other public advantages, like as parks, aren’t listed in its bounds under the permissions that permitted it to be developed on rural territory 25 miles east of Naples.

David Genson, Barron Collier Cos.’ president of development in Naples, said it’s mostly to allow additional single-family homes to be built.

In conjunction with Domino’s Pizza entrepreneur Tom Monaghan and Ave Maria University founder Barron Collier Cos., the community was built.

The partnership owned the land being annexed. Row crops, cow pastures, and sod farming have dominated the terrain.

One of the biggest changes will be the sod farm’s absorption. Off Oil Well Road, the property is the town’s entrance. It will have more shopping in a new town center.

Ave Maria mansions remain attractive real estate.

Genson indicated that the maximum number of residences will stay at 11,000, even though additional single-family homes will be developed.

He suggested the town’s layout could have allowed 8,400 units without adding more land.

Single-family dwellings will make up more than 80% of the total, despite the original intention for 60%.

Genson added, “We’ve been selling well over 500 homes a year now, for a few years, and this year we are on pace to possibly sell close to 700 homes.”

The bulk of such dwellings are single-family.

The town attracts budget-conscious customers.The town’s affordability is appealing.

Genson added, “A lot of it is the fact that what you can get closer to the coast in Naples, versus what you can get out at Ave Maria, the price point is very different, although the quality of the home is the same.”

Realtor.com lists Ave Maria properties at $469,450. $847,500 in Naples and $665,000 in Miami.

Genson claimed 50% of Ave Maria’s buyers come from Florida’s east coast, many from Miami-Dade and Broward counties, drawn by the community’s value and safety.

We’ve built about 4,000 dwellings. 7,000 more homes to go. He answered, “Obviously, that will take us a while.”

He expects residences to be built out in 10–15 years at the present sales rate. The amended plans provide for 2,150 multifamily and 8,850 single-family houses.

Ave Maria is one of America’s best-selling master-planned communities.

Dunkin’ Donuts and maybe a Baptist church are part of the town’s growth.

Construction continues on its three well-established but unfinished town centers. An assisted living center, 300-unit apartment complex, and more retail outlets are planned for commercial development.

Genson stated, “We have enough rooftops to support national retailers like Dunkin’ Donuts.”

Dunkin’ and an NCH Healthcare System emergency care center will be in Midtown Plaza, under construction.

Planning is underway for the flats.

Genson added, “Those could start construction by the third quarter of 2024.”

He added a group is also seeking to buy land for a Baptist church.

Nearby hotelThe town allows up to 300-room hotels.

Another factory is interested in joining Arthrex in Ave Maria on roughly 10 acres. Genson declared.

Arthrex, a global medical device firm headquartered in North Naples, expanded to the town in 2013 and now makes 70% of its goods there, according to the company’s website.

Changes have been made to the town’s commercial uses.The developers moved commercial and retail functions to make room for more single-family residences. The renovations will also allow a wider range of goods and services to serve the area, up to 1 million square feet. Retail will take up more space than offices, which haven’t been as popular.

The community will add property north of the 600-acre sod farm.

Another 106 acres along Camp Keais Road will become “neighborhood general” to allow greater residential construction.

Golf course, increased student housingA golf facility and Ave Maria University residences are also included in the modified plans. From 10 to 160 single-family residences, campus housing for staff, teachers, and benefactors has grown.

County commissioners approved the town’s expansion and other amendments as part of their summary agenda without debate or discussion. With no resistance from locals or others, the county’s Planning Commission and staff recommended approval.

The community will add property north of the 600-acre sod farm.

Another 106 acres along Camp Keais Road will become “neighborhood general” to allow greater residential construction.

Golf course, increased student housingA golf facility and Ave Maria University residences are also included in the modified plans. From 10 to 160 single-family residences, campus housing for staff, teachers, and benefactors has grown.

County commissioners approved the town’s expansion and other amendments as part of their summary agenda without debate or discussion. With no resistance from locals or others, the county’s Planning Commission and staff recommended approval.

The Okaloacoochee Slough State Forest and Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge border the stewardship area. The RLSA initiative discourages local landowners from building one residence every five acres.

Ave Maria needs more stewardship credits to expand. However, developers are using banked credits for land they’ve already set aside for preservation in two sites within and adjacent to Camp KeaisStrand, a significant flow way system connecting Corkscrew Marsh and the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge.

This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News

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