PB residents concerned over the potential expansion and redevelopment of the PB Community Park held a meeting on June 20, 2020 with representatives from the PB Foundation, Presidents from the concerned condo associations and also invited a representation from the PBPOA.
Stated Main Objection/Concern: Proposed PB Community Park plan envisions a dense tennis/ pickleball (day & night), joint-use complex with expanded community services and additional parking.
Park borders on the South the PB properties of AVALON (174 residences), BREAKWATER (216 residents) and THE POINTE (87 residences); the non-PB community of BEACHWALK (356 residences) borders the park on the North. Noise and light pollution will adversely affect quality of life and property values of the neighboring communities.
PB Foundation Clarifications
- Collier County owns the community park property and has full control over how it is managed and what services it provides.
- The County leases out the park management to an outside contractor and that lease expires in 2021, thus the very preliminary discussions with PB and possibly others.
- Collier County Parks Dept. considers the park to be underutilized and is looking at a redesign of the park to expand its offerings and community services plus provide additional parking.
- While Pelican Bay does have the need for additional fitness space, seasonal shortages of tennis courts, and increasing requests to add pickleball, “if” a feasible proposal were to be structured between the PB Foundation and Collier County, it would be well communicated to the membership and surrounding communities, and opportunities would be provided for all stakeholders to offer their input and feedback.
Additional Concerns Discussed:
Should the Naples One Project be approved by the County in its present form, it would also place additional traffic on what we already feel is an overly stressed Vanderbilt Beach Road from RT41 to the beach.
- The fire and ambulance station located on Hammock Oak Road Drive relies on Vanderbilt Beach Road to service its clients. Traffic jams on Vanderbilt Beach Road create safety issues for Pelican Bay and other communities in the area.
- All agreed the potential plan to expand services at Collier County Community Park at Vanderbilt Beach Road and Hammock Oak Drive is another example of why the County should be taking a serious look at how any additional development in the area from RT41 to the beach needs a revised long term plan that reflects current density in those areas that are served by a series of one lane roads where there is very little space for expansion.
Meeting Takeaways
- The Condo Presidents in attendance did an excellent job of informing the PB Foundation and PBPOA of their concerns.
- The PB Foundation and PBPOA brought everyone up to date on how each group was addressing the various development projects. We will keep each other informed of any new developments.
- The affected condo associations will create a team to attend the Collier County Parks Department Meetings to monitor how the Collier County Park redevelopment is moving forward. They should also be offering their concerns at the County pre-planning meetings.
- The PBPOA will be incorporating the impact of the park redevelopment on traffic in the area as a first step in the opposition process.
- Condo Presidents and their members are urged to visit the Pelican Bay Property Association website PBPOA.ORG to sign the petition against the Naples One Development Project and to see the various articles and E-blasts that have been written on what the PBPOA considers to be irresponsible overdevelopment.
Hank Rossi, Vice President PBPOA
