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Will there be a new town in Eastern Collier County?

Florida Panther Kitten
Courtesy FWC Flickr
Florida Panther Kitten

Tomorrow, Tuesday May 25th, the Collier County Board of Commissioners will cast the final vote on the proposed Longwater and Bellmar developments. The two communities in Eastern Collier County, along with Rivergrass, are planned to create a new town in the far Eastern part of Collier County, all within prime panther habitat.

Opponents worry the developments will bring in more traffic and have a harmful impact on wildlife, including that of the critically endangered Florida panther. Opponents also say the infrastructure costs to taxpayers of services such as EMS, fire, and schools is being grossly underestimated.