Neighbors unhappy about proposed apartments in Collier County

Residents in Collier County are upset over plans to build an apartment complex and a shopping center near them. They say they moved to Golden Gate Estates to escape the traffic but adding this new complex will cause congestion and crashes.

Some believe that Collier County Commissioners are putting money ahead of residents’ desires.

If you’re driving down Immokalee Road in Collier County, you might miss something. Chad Everett created a petition against the proposed apartment complex. “Here in the local community, none of us knew about this apartment complex,” Everett said.

If you look closely, there is a sign indicating those proposed apartments. Chad created the repetition in opposition to the apartment complex being built. 900 people have already signed it.

“The politicians are not thinking about the people,” said Everett. Instead, Everett believes, they’re thinking about money.

Collier County Commissioners are close to approving a 400-plus unit apartment complex at the intersection of Immokalee Road and Randall Boulevard.

William McDaniel is the Collier County Commissioner representing District Five. “It is congested. There’s no argument,” McDaniel said.

Commissioner McDaniel already knows there’s a large amount of traffic near that intersection. However, he says Collier County can’t legally stop a property owner from using land simply because the area is congested.

“Next year, in the spring, I’m going to bring forward the budget initiatives requisite to carry Vanderbilt all the way out to Everglades Blvd,” McDaniel said. “Which would disperse an enormous amount of traffic now that’s coming in now from Immokalee and Ave Maria and Orange Blossom.”

Yet, those that already live and/or work in the area, wonder what this could mean for them. Even if they’re only driving through, what could a new development mean?

“What about the local community, anything about us? What we would like there?” Everett said.

The Collier County Board of Commissioners is set to discuss and potentially, vote on, the Golden Gate Estates plan at its next meeting on October 26.