Founded in 1984, the PBPOA was established by residents who wanted to speak with a unified voice during the development of Pelican Bay. At the time, the PBPOA was the only game in town – the only community-wide residents’ organization.
The Foundation board then was made up of developers, who dealt with zoning and management of the common areas. (WCI gradually ceded control, turning over board membership to the Foundation in the late 1990’s.)
The organization grew, of course. Current membership numbers approximate 3,000 households or 6000 residents. With the emergence of the Foundation and the PBSD, the PBPOA evolved into an oversight organization, with the primary goal of protecting residential property values.
Critical activities over the years have included …
- Opposition to high-rises on the east side of Pelican Bay Boulevard.
- With the Foundation, a successful fight to prevent the construction of Cap d’Antibes.
- Opposition to bicycle lanes on Pelican Bay Boulevard.
- A lead role in defeating plans to build a fishing pier next to Pelican Bay.
- Efforts leading to the formation of the North Naples Community Alliance, a coalition of surrounding neighborhoods.
- A major fund-raising program to offset cuts in service at the Vanderbilt Beach Library Branch.
- Worked tirelessly with Save Vanderbilt Beach against Stock Development’s proposed One Naples development at the intersection of Gulf Shore Dr. and Vanderbilt Beach Rd, and substantially reduced its impact on our local community.
The PBPOA has also instituted a program of Community Workshops and Candidate Forums to provide information to the residents. Topics have included proposed state constitutional amendments, changes in condominium law, North Naples Fire & Rescue Consolidation.
In recent years, the PBPOA has honored individuals who have made sustained contributions to the community. Winners of the Person-of-the-Year award have been Kay Potter for her pioneering work in protecting the mangroves, Joe Adams the founder of the Men’s Coffee, and Ross Obley, head of the Westinghouse team that built Pelican Bay, founding member of The Club Pelican Bay, past president of Pelican Bay Rotary and Greater Naples Chamber of Commerce.
Prior to COVID, the PBPOA sponsored the Year Rounders and its off-season social events since 1998.
With the support of its members, the PBPOA will continue its tradition of providing community service and protecting the interests of the residents of Pelican Bay.
HOW DOES PELICAN BAY OPERATE
By understanding how these entities function, and how important their decisions are to our quality of life, to our expenditures and to our property values, it is hoped that more residents will take an active role in the decisions that affect us all.
The Pelican Bay Property Owners Association is a voluntary group of resident owners organized to provide an effective concerted voice for the residents of Pelican Bay in matters affecting the quality of life and values of the community.
The Pelican Bay Foundation is the “Master Homeowners Association”. membership and payment of assessments is mandatory for all Pelican Bay property owners.
The Foundation maintains a staff and is responsible for the maintenance of the common areas and the operation of all amenities.
Pelican Bay Services Division is a municipal services and taxing benefit unit of Collier County and is responsible for water management, street lighting, landscaping and grounds maintenance in Pelican Bay. These services are funded as part of the non-ad valorem taxes paid by residents. Listed below is the Collier County Ordinance that governs PBSD.
“The Unit is formed for the purpose of providing street lighting, water management, beach re-nourishment, ambient noise management, extraordinary law enforcement service and beautification, including but not limited to beautification of recreation facilities, sidewalk, street and median areas, identification markers, the maintenance of conservation or preserve areas including the restoration of the mangrove forest preserve and to finance the landscaping beautification of only that portion of U.S. 41 from Pine Ridge Road to Vanderbilt Beach Road in the above- described taxing and benefit unit and to that end shall possess all the powers to do all things reasonably necessary to provide such services. The Unit will be solely responsible for advising the County on dredging and maintaining Clam Pass for the purpose of enhancing the health of the affected mangrove forest, and will manage such activities for the County.” (Section Four, Ordinance 2013-61, p. 1).