A significant land-use transformation is moving forward in East Naples. Following a 2.5-hour public hearing, the Collier County Planning Commission—acting concurrently as the Environmental Advisory Committee—voted 5–1 to recommend approval for rezoning approximately 169 acres at 341 Sabal Palm Road to accommodate an ultra-exclusive, Audubon International Gold-certified private golf club.
The proposed project by developer Jon Rubinton of SWJR Naples I LLC replaces an earlier, heavily contested plan to build 423 residential homes (including 85 workforce units) on the former South Naples Citrus Grove property.
At the LeAneSuarezGroup, we closely follow zoning, environmental policy, and master-planned developments across Southwest Florida. Land-use decisions along the Collier Boulevard corridor shape neighborhood dynamics, impact natural flow ways, and directly influence luxury real estate demand across the greater Naples market.
Project Blueprint: What Is Planned at 341 Sabal Palm Road
Located roughly 1.4 miles east of Collier Boulevard near Picayune Strand State Forest and master-planned communities like VeronaWalk and Tamarindo, the vision centers on an elite, low-density golf sanctuary modeled after world-renowned retreats like Calusa Pines Golf Club and Old Collier Golf Club.
SABAL PALM ROAD GOLF CLUB AT-A-GLANCE
[ TOTAL ACREAGE ] ──► Roughly 169 acres (Former South Naples Citrus Grove)
[ GOLF AMENITIES ] ──► 18-hole championship course, driving range & practice greens
[ MEMBER CABANAS ] ──► 10 guest cabanas (up to 4 bedrooms; max 30-day transient stays)
[ OPEN SPACE ] ──► ~70% dedicated open space with nature trails & boardwalks
[ MEMBERSHIP CAP ] ──► Capped at 250–300 members (generating ~60 daily vehicle trips)
[ CERTIFICATION ] ──► Audubon International Gold Signature Sanctuary standards
The facility plans to operate seasonally, closing for five months during late spring and summer for intensive course maintenance and environmental resting.
The Zoning Debate: Rural Fringe “Sending Lands” vs. Low-Intensity Use
The 169-acre parcel currently holds an agricultural designation within the county’s Rural Fringe Mixed-Use District (RFMUD), established 26 years ago following a 1999 state mandate to curb urban sprawl. Under its current “sending area” classification, residential density is strictly limited to one home per 40 acres (permitting just four homes total).
LAND-USE ALTERNATIVES COMPARED
[ LIVE LOCAL ACT ] ──► Up to 1,800 multi-family units (6 to 8 stories high)
[ RESIDENTIAL PLAN ] ──► 423 single-family homes & townhouses (Previously opposed)
[ PROPOSED GOLF ] ──► 18 holes, 10 member cabanas, 70% green open space
[ CURRENT ZONING ] ──► Agricultural / RFMUD Sending Area (1 dwelling per 40 acres)
Planning Commission Chair Joe Schmitt advocated for the golf course as a balanced, lower-intensity outcome for the county. Schmitt emphasized that without a viable compromise, the property owners could legally challenge the 26-year-old sending designation or pursue higher-density development under Florida’s Live Local Act, which could potentially allow up to 1,800 units in mid-rise buildings.
Commission Secretary Paul Shea cast the lone dissenting vote, maintaining that altering RFMUD sending-area designations requires clear and overwhelming public benefit that respects the original growth management framework.
Landowner Perspective & Environmental Perspectives
The property has operated as South Naples Citrus Grove since 1979. However, the devastating, statewide spread of citrus greening rendered the grove commercially non-viable, prompting the retirement-age owners—the Smits family and Henry Jacobs—to seek a sale.
Jacobs pointed out that a private golf club with 250–300 members generates approximately 60 vehicle trips daily, substantially less than the 152 daily trips historically produced by the grove’s retail produce stand.
During public testimony, neighbors and environmental advocates voiced significant concerns:
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Audubon Western Everglades & Conservation Groups: Brad Cornell urged commissioners to preserve the sending lands, emphasizing the site’s proximity to Picayune Strand, Florida panther corridors, wildfire risks, and the need for regional hydrological flow restoration.
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Neighboring Agriculture: Nearby residents, including flower and bee farmers on Sabal Palm Road, voiced concerns regarding overdevelopment, runoff, and preserving local rural tranquility.
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Developer Safeguards: Land-use counsel Rich Yovanovich noted that Gold-certified Audubon courses adhere to rigorous restrictions on turf fertilizers and pesticides while providing expansive wildlife foraging corridors.
Next Steps: Board of County Commissioners Hearing
With the Planning Commission’s favorable 5–1 recommendation in hand, the petition now advances to the Collier County Board of County Commissioners on September 22, 2026.
If approved by the Board of County Commissioners, the Growth Management Plan amendment will be transmitted to the Florida Department of Commerce for formal state agency review.
