Plans moving ahead for new town in eastern Collier County

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COLLIER COUNTY, Fla.- Big plans are in the works for a brand new town in eastern Collier County. Long term plans include 10,000 homes, a school, healthcare facilities and its own downtown center.

“It’s a large deal by far, it’s our next step as we start to see development east of 951,” said Jamie French, Deputy Department Head for Growth Management in Collier County.

Officials anticipate the biggest growth throughout Collier County to be concentrated in this area. Nearly 350,000 people are expected to be living east of State Road 951 in the next few decades.

“It’s very spread out and it covers a good number of miles and it’s going to redefine that whole eastern area of Collier County,” said French.

Right now Collier Enterprises and Minto Communities is in the permitting process. The first phase would include 4,000 new homes and a downtown center, expected to be ready for construction in 2017 and finished by 2018.

In the future the self-sustaining town would include 10,000 homes, 1.9 million square feet of commercial space, churches, a fire department, school and healthcare facilities.

As of right now, agriculture crops take up much of the area at Rural Lands West. The county says the crops will be relocated to surrounding areas prior to construction.

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