The wrong One Naples decision made today will have a century of consequences, mostly bad, for Collier County residents to live with daily. That’s a long time to suffer! So, why then is One Naples such a tough decision for our Commissioners? Thousands of Collier County residents oppose One Naples as evidenced by the petitioners (2,769 unique names), hundreds of telephone calls, thousands of E-mails and over 20,000 letters to the Collier County Commissioners of which we are aware and/or initiated. Why does it appear that thousands of Collier County citizens’ voices are falling on deaf ears and one voice (Stock’s) is being heard, when they are clearly wrong in trying to violate dozens of codes, covenants and rules? Stock Development has gotten themselves into a $25,000,000 mess and is trying to have Collier County bail them out. They have had many successful projects. This likely is not one of them, and it’s not our (Collier County citizens) obligation to fix it at taxpayer’s expense. If “The Will of the People” to whom the Commissioners are pledged to serve prevails and not “The Will of the Stock,” EVERY Commissioner should vote to reject One Naples. “It’s not who’s right, it’s what’s right.” It is wrong in so many ways and the purest example of a developer throwing his/her money and muscle around for his/her own benefit. Collier citizens are the ones who will be severely negatively affected, as will those who won’t even be born for another 30, 40, 50 or more years and beyond! The below comment from Collier County Planning Commissioner, Paul Shea, is taken word for word from the November 7th, 2020 edition of the Naples Daily News: “Paul Shea, the other commissioner who voted against recommending approval, said he didn’t know how he could support the project, ignoring the thousands of letters and notes he’d received against it. In his mind, he said, it’s the board’s duty to help manage the growth in the county based on the county’s growth management plan, which currently doesn’t allow such an intense development on the site. Changes to the growth management plan, Shea argued, should be made when they benefit the community, which can be hard to measure at times, especially in this situation when so many neighbors are against the project. “To me, I don’t think it’s our role to go into a community like that and tell them what’s best for them,” he said. Now contrast that comment/quote with the following comment/’quote from Collier Collier Planning Commissioner, Paul Schmitt. “The real issue, Schmitt said, is what can be built that makes financial sense and creates a reasonable rate of return. He pointed out that developers don’t build projects to “not make any money.” “That’s why they get into the development business,” he said. One Commissioner, Paul Shea, listened and responded with his vote to the thousands of citizens of Collier County who voiced their opposition the One Naples Project as proposed. ANDOne Commissioner, Joe Schmitt, listened to or heard, as may be the case, only the voice of Stock Development as his expressed only concern, per the above statement, and verbalized that his sole concern is Stock Development’s financial well being. He has expressed absolutely no sympathy or support for the residents, citizens, people who sent him thousands of communication opposing One Naples and requesting his “no” vote. This is exactly why people do not trust government. When self-serving and/or personal opinions, and/or influences often based on personal relationships transcend or appear to transcend the “will of the people,” the PEOPLE have every right to object and to be outraged that their collective voices were ignored for the benefit of one voice. In January, 2021, The Board of Collier County Commissioners will address the One Naples Project and a final vote will be taken. There are five (5) Commissioners. Contact them, their emails addresses and phone numbers are below; make YOUR voice heard on this ridiculous project. Together we can make our collective will, the “Will of the People” prevail. Mark E. English, President for the Pelican Bay Property Owners Association |
| Collier County Commissioners: Andy Solis, Esq. (239) 252-8602 Andy.Solis@colliercountyflgov Penny Taylor (239) 252-8604 Penny.Taylor@colliercountyfl.gov Rick LoCastro (239) 252-8601 Rick.LoCastro@colliercountyfl.gov William L. McDaniel, Jr. (239) 252-8605 Bill.McDaniel@colliercountyfl.gov Burt L. Saunders (239) 252-8603 Burt.Saunders@colliercountyfl.gov |
