Posted by: Naples Daily News
Written by: Rich Yovanovich
Date: October 11, 2010
Editor, Daily News:
On Nov. 2 residents in six precincts in Golden Gate Estates will be asked to case a straw vote to allow a grocery store-anchored shopping center to be built in eastern Collier County.
Plans for the new center have been several years in the making and come after a myriad of economic, traffic and environmental studies as well as extensive input from local residents. Analysis of the data shows that this shopping center and other commercial development is needed and wanted in Golden Gate Estates.
The Naples Daily News’ own reader’s poll demonstrated that an overwhelming majority (1,073 of 1,384) agrees that Golden Gates Estates needs additional shopping opportunities in this location even when considering opportunities at other locations.
The Estates Shopping Center is sized realistically for the market. A downsized project would not be economically viable. Smaller, five-acre commercial developments have been tried but have failed because they lack a major anchor such as a supermarket. What is needed and wanted in the community cannot fit on five-acre parcels. The Area Master Plan needs to be amended.
Further study will delay this vital economic opportunity for as much as eight years and the community cannot afford to wait that long. Now is the time to plan for the future. This shopping center will create more than 400 new jobs and provide almost $18 million in direct economic impact.
We urge residents to vote “yes,” on Nov. 2 on the area master plan amendment at the end of the ballot.
— Rich Yovanovich
Naples
Counsel for the developer
©Naples Daily News
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