Collier County Commissioners voted 4-1 to continue negotiations on a 439-acre land swap with Barron Collier Cos. The company faces the threat of a carnival, swamp wagon rides and other noisy events in addition to its planned wilderness retreat.
The county commission on Aug. 27 asked its staff to work out further details of a deal with the developer involving county-owned Camp Keais and Barron Collier’s Silver Strand Grove III and then bring the proposal to the committee, with Chairman Chris Hall voting against it.
Staff recommended two independent appraisals for both properties, a possible cash transaction, and that Barron Collier reimburse the county for all costs of the appraisal and purchase.
“Bring us something that makes the most sense for the district and the taxpayer,” CCommissioner Rick LoCastro told Deputy County Manager Ed Finn and Nick Casalanguida, Barron Collier’s senior vice president of development, that he sees benefits for both sides. “Come back with a lot more details and I hope those details will be overwhelmingly positive for both sides, but certainly for us, for the taxpayers.”
Barron Collier, Owner of Silver Strand Sod Farm near Ave Maria, met with county officials May 21 to discuss concerns in eastern Collier. In a June 5 letter, she proposed trading 439 acres of her property for 439 acres of Camp Keais, finding parcels of equal value, doing two independent appraisals and splitting the costs.
The developer is moving forward with the Collier Rod and Gun Club at the Preserve, a seasonal wilderness retreat with up to 225 single-family cabins and hiking trails on 260 acres. The site is 5 miles east of Ave Maria, southwest of Oil Well Road and State Road 29, where it will have a main entrance. Also planned are an 18-hole golf course, a clubhouse, rental cabins, clay pigeon shooting, archery and fishing on an adjacent 911-acre property. Rifles are prohibited, golf, shooting and archery are permitted from dusk to dawn.
The district bought The 1,046.19 acres of Camp Keais for $13.6 million in March 2021, using a taxable bond, and still owes $9.6 million, but now estimates the land value at $16 million. His intent was to relocate the fairgrounds and build a swamp buggy or racing facility as far south and east as possible from the intersection of Oil Well Road and Camp Keais Road.
Finn said the County Fair Board and Swamp Buggy Inc. have filed letters of intent to purchase 100 acres each and that the remainder is earmarked for parks, a sheriff’s training center, hurricane debris removal, horticultural processing, an animal shelter, commercial or industrial uses and workforce housing.
Commissioner Bill McDaniel Jr. noted the sheriff was already considering relocating his public shooting range is located at 4441 70th Ave. NE and the construction of an indoor shooting range.
“When (Barron Collier) “When the two of them realized that a fair was going to be held next to their fancy rod and gun club, they didn’t think it was such a good idea and came up with this compromise, and I have to say it out loud: I’m very happy with the compromise,” said McDaniel, whose district includes the properties.
But Hall described the swap as more beneficial for Barron Collier and disputed estimates on the grounds that Camp Keais land could be worth more to Barron Collier than its estimated value.
“I see this as a great benefit to the Collier family, who want to get rid of the fairgrounds and the Swamp Buggies from the Rod and Gun Club,” Hall said, adding that Barron Collier could sell land to the Fair Board and Swamp Buggy. “If they want the property, they can just Obidder, and we could accept or reject.”
