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Naples council delays decision on annexation
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NAPLES — Naples’ annexation question is still up in air.
After three hours of discussion and more than a half dozen public speakers in favor of the project, Naples City Council voted to table a vote on a controversial annexation request for 60 days, or until Dec. 17.
Approving the request would have put developers a step closer toward bringing a 22-acre parcel of land into the city, and beginning work on the Bridges at Gordon River, a continuing care senior center planned for the site. The Bridges’ land is east of Goodlette-Frank Road on the south side of Golden Gate Parkway, just north of the Naples Zoo.
Council members said they needed more information, particularly a staff generated or vetted urban services report, before they felt comfortable voting.
Urban services reports show the impact an annexation will have on the community. While an urban services report was completed for the Bridges project, it was completed by the developers agents, not the city’s staff.
“What really upsets me is that I like this project, but I have a lot of unanswered questions and I don’t feel comfortable voting on something today that I have a lot of unanswered questions (with),” Councilwoman Teresa Heitmann said Wednesday evening.
The city’s annexation policy states that the city staff will complete an urban services report for all annexations.
The city will most likely outsource the urban services report, at a cost to the developers, in order to complete it in time. An urban services report could cost upwards of $15,000, said John Passidomo, an attorney for the developer.
The decision to table the decision until December came after Councilwoman Penny Taylor made a motion to approve the project on first reading. That would have given city staff about six months before the second, and final, vote to complete the report.
“The beauty of what this process is, is that we have two readings,” Taylor said. “If the numbers don’t meet (our approval), and there is discussion at the second reading, we can continue it or kill it.”
But council members ultimately decided they needed more time to process the information before making a decision.
“I think it’s totally inappropriate to vote this up or down tonight,” said Councilman Gary Price. “I think it’s irresponsible.”
Continuing the discussion will come at a cost. Planning Director Robin Singer said the cost to re-advertise a public hearing for the annexation, and related ordinances, will cost the city more than $4,800.
If built, Bridges at Gordon River would have 429 independent living units in four buildings. It will also have a commons building and a wellness and health-care building. That wellness and health-care building also will house 92 skilled nursing or assisted living units.
The design is meant to create an urban retirement community in Naples.
The annexation request will be reheard at 5:05 p.m., Dec. 15.
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Great more people that cant drive, complain and make us wait 2 hours for a table to eat breakfast. we dont need more people to tell us to be quite and we are to loud. cant we just let the old ones go off like in the westerns ? never to be seen agian ... why are we looking for ways to get more here ?????? I can see the news now... Woman in wheelchair hit crossing Goodlette Frank to go shopping for support hose
#1 Posted by obwon on October 16, 2008 at 4:36 a.m. (Suggest removal)
If you are a city taxpayer you should be grateful to commissioners Sulick and Price for asking the tough questions. The BIG question, however is: Why does this developer REALLY want to be in the city? Is it because, as their lawyer says, residents want to live out their years still inside the city limits(questionable absent any market survey information) or is it because the city is a bit easier on, and friendlier to, developers who can't get the same sweet deal in the county? People go to these assisted living facilities for the security they offer and it doesn't matter whether they are inside or outside a particular city. We're just kidding ourselves if we belive the hype on this one. Most people I talk to are still shrugging their shoulders about why the city let the Horseshoe Drive property in. Amazing!
#2 Posted by unygfw on October 16, 2008 at 6:29 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Did I miss Barnett' vote?..he's been Passidomo' stooge and in his pocket since a real estate transaction that bailed Barnett out back when he was near divorce....early 90's..circa...
#3 Posted by Trexler on October 16, 2008 at 6:47 a.m. (Suggest removal)
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