The boat dock petition began in 2013 with the request to approve 42 slips. Over the next couple of years, the developer, community, County staff and the CRA Advisory Committee met to discuss the potential impact 42 slips would have on Haldeman Creek. On February 27, 2015, the developer submitted a new petition that reduced the boat slips from 42 to 27 and the total protrusion into the creek from 52 feet to 38 feet. The new petition was eventually heard by the Collier County Planning Commission (CCPC) on July 2, 2015 and approved with the condition that the slips be reduced from 27 to 26. Since the CCPC is the final decision maker on boat dock extensions, the petition for appeal was subsequently filed on July 27, 2015.
The CCPC appeal for the boat dock extension was heard by the Collier County Board of County Commissioners on December 8, 2015. During the meeting, the commissioners negotiated a settlement between the developer and the surrounding neighbors. In lieu of extending the docks 38 feet into Haldeman Creek, the developer agreed to construct the docks parallel to the shoreline.
“It’s a win-win”, said Maurice Gutierrez, a 36-year Creek resident and CRA Advisory Board member. “This eliminates the obstruction, increases the navigatability and makes it look like less of a marina.”