Rural lands generate interest

The spotlight is shining on rural areas again.

As the recession fades, areas well removed from the urban coast are getting renewed attention. That's because developers are scouting inland for opportunities to build homes and shopping centers. The last time these areas saw such interest was during the real estate boom of the last decade.

Land pressures are particularly acute in Collier County, where home prices have jumped significantly since the end of the recession. Witness the growth of new communities on Immokalee Road, the east-west corridor that links rural areas of eastern Collier County with the densely populated areas of Naples.

To prepare for the next wave of development, the Collier County Growth Management Department is re-examining future projects on 77,000 acres east of Collier Boulevard and north of U.S. 41.

The county is holding a series of public workshops it's calling a “restudy” of Collier County's rural fringe. Planners will be discussing ways to protect wildlife, shield wetlands and plan for future growth. For more information go to: colliergov.net/gmprestudies.