Contact: Rich Yovanovich
877-463-5889
SW Florida Regional Planning Council Approves
Shopping Center at Golden Gate-Wilson Boulevards
GOLDEN GATE ESTATES, FL – May 14, 2010 – Plans for a phased, 41.5-acre commercial center anchored by a major grocery store in central Golden Gate Estates have received a major boost from the Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council.
In its report, the Council recommended approval of the plans for a grocery-anchored shopping center on the northwest corner of Golden Gate and Wilson boulevards. The Council acknowledged the community’s need for additional commercial development in the mostly semi-rural section of Collier County. The Council’s report specifically stated that “the proposed amendment would allow commercial development that was shown to be needed in the subject planning area of the County,” and that it “would provide employment opportunities and reduce traffic on the adjacent road network.”
It is significant to note that this commercial center is the only such project in the Golden Gate Estates area to receive approval from the Southwest Florida Regional Council.
“Many residents of Golden Gate Estates are looking for more convenient shopping and service amenities in the community,” said Rich Yovanovich, Chairman of Supporters of Estates Shopping. “This center will provide for a very specific need that people have, while the design, set backs and buffers will preserve the semi-rural character of the area.”
Recent surveys have shown nearby residents’ consistent support for the center, which studies show will create an estimated $20.4 million in annual direct economic impact and generate 624 direct and indirect jobs (321 during construction and 303 upon completion).
The project requires an amendment to the Golden Gate Area Master Plan. The Collier County Commission has placed the item on the November 2, 2010 general election ballot in a straw vote of the six precincts nearest to the center (551, 552, 554, 555 590 and 591) – roughly the area from Immokalee Road south to I-75 and from Collier Boulevard east to Desoto Boulevard.
The shopping center’s proposed location is in the interior of northern Golden Gate Estates, a semi-rural neighborhood more than 11 miles from any major urbanized community shopping areas of the county. Currently, residents must drive at least six miles one way, just to get to a major supermarket.
The Golden Gate/Wilson intersection is served by four-lane roads and minimal road / intersection improvements funded by the developer will provide ease of vehicle access to the center.
At the request of local residents, the center has been designed to maintain the area’s semi-rural character, leaving approximately 50 percent of the site as open space and providing oversized buffering to shield it from neighbors and extensive landscaping to maintain the “green” frontage of Golden Gate and Wilson Boulevard and the other adjacent roads.
The Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council noted in its report that the designers of the shopping center have worked closely with and responded to the requests of the county and local residents. In doing so the shopping center’s design has gone through a number of changes: the center’s size was reduced; setbacks and buffers were increased; and certain businesses and land uses were excluded including liquor stores, bars, multi-family housing and certain institutional uses. Focus groups indicated residents favored a major grocery store, post office, family restaurants and banks as tenants for the center.
For further information, please visit www.estatesshopping.com
Read the Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council Report
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