New Residential Development Near Fiddler’s Creek Moves Forward: What Homeowners and Buyers Need to Know

In a decision that highlights Collier County’s continued growth and rising housing needs, commissioners have voted unanimously to amend the county’s growth management plan. The latest amendment opens the door for a proposed 1,299-unit residential community across 227 acres north of U.S. 41 East, near the intersection of Greenway and Fritchey roads.

The community, known as the Greenway-Fritchey Residential Overlay planned-unit development, will feature a mix of single-family and multifamily homes, with 260 residences dedicated to affordable housing. These homes will target households earning at or below 80 percent of the county’s median income, which currently sits at $113,600.

Before moving forward, the plan still needs to pass state-level review by the Department of Commerce. Once that step is complete, the project will return to the Planning Commission and Board of County Commissioners for additional public hearings, where more details will emerge about design, infrastructure, and community impact.

Habitat for Humanity and private developer David Torres are teaming up on this effort. Habitat will manage the affordable housing portion, maintaining its familiar approach where qualified buyers help build their homes and secure long-term mortgages. Torres will oversee the market-rate side of the development. According to Habitat CEO Rev. Lisa Lefkow, this collaboration combines resources and expertise to create a balanced, inclusive neighborhood with opportunities for both lower-income buyers and traditional homeowners.

“By working together, we can deliver a stronger community that blends affordability with high-quality construction,” Lefkow said, emphasizing that affordable housing is nearly impossible to deliver in Collier County without such partnerships.

The project also sparked discussion around environmental safeguards. One controversial change reduces the littoral shelf — a shallow, sloping lakeshore area critical for filtering pollutants and supporting wildlife — from 30 percent to 10 percent of water features within the development. Environmental advocates raised concerns that this reduction could degrade water quality, lead to nutrient buildup, and fuel algae blooms.

Brad Cornell, representing Florida Audubon and Audubon Western Everglades, cautioned that cutting back littoral plantings could have serious consequences for stormwater quality and the health of local lakes. While the developer’s representatives argued the new design meets urban standards, they agreed to continue conversations with Cornell and other environmental groups.

Transfer-of-development rights (TDRs) also came up in debate. Some felt that requiring TDR credits for the market-rate homes could help maintain a balance between growth and habitat conservation, but county staff noted that the Rural-Fringe Mixed-Use District guidelines updated in 2023 specifically exempted income-restricted homes from TDR requirements.

If state agencies sign off, the plans will head back to the Planning Commission and then the Board of County Commissioners for two more rounds of public hearings, requiring a supermajority vote to finalize.

For buyers, sellers, and investors around Fiddler’s Creek and Marco Island, this amendment could further drive demand and appreciation, especially as Collier County keeps evolving to meet housing pressures. The Gulf Group will keep you informed about what these policy changes mean for your property values, the community, and future investment opportunities.

If you want to understand how this new development could affect your real estate plans, reach out to our team. We are always here to help you make sense of the market.