Collier County removes signs opposing 28-home rezoning

Residents of Coconut Creek are upset after Collier County removed dozens of “NO REZONING” signs opposing a proposed 28-home development. Residents cite concerns about transparency, environmental impacts, potential flooding and increased traffic.

RV Group Development LLC, whose managing member is David Giles, is seeking to combine a 12-acre property at 3720 Gail Blvd. with an adjacent 3-acre parcel for a project called The Woodlands at Rock Creek.

The property is currently zoned Estates. The proposed rezoning would change it to a Residential Planned Unit Development, allowing the 28-home project to move forward under specific development standards. The application is under county review.

Residents also question whether Giles has provided consistent descriptions of the project to neighbors seeking information. They worry construction could disturb vegetation, wetlands and wildlife, including peacocks, bobcats and a bear they say frequent the neighborhood. Potential flooding and increased traffic are additional concerns.

Residents question sign removals

Residents paid for the “NO REZONING” signs to protest the development. On Wednesday, Oct. 14, resident Ted McMullen was driving down Donna Street when he saw a Collier County worker removing signs and placing them in a county truck.

McMullen pulled over to ask why the signs were being taken down. The worker appeared “pretty irritated” and told McMullen he knew the law, McMullen said.

“I said that I was just curious. I told him, ‘I’m not getting smart with you. I’m just curious and want to know so I don’t get my sign taken,’” McMullen said.

According to McMullen, the worker told him the signs had to be at least 30 feet from the street because their existing locations violated county regulations. McMullen moved his sign farther from the road.

Later, McMullen heard a “commotion” a few doors down, where a neighbor was speaking with the worker who had attempted to take her sign. Although he could not hear the entire conversation, McMullen said it sounded as though the worker was refusing to return it.

McMullen said he approached to explain to his neighbor where she could place her sign and express his frustration with the situation, not to confront the worker. He said he saw the worker filming him and the woman from inside the county truck before driving away.

That week, residents went to county offices in an attempt to retrieve their signs. Many questioned who had filed the anonymous complaint citing alleged “health and safety concerns” that prompted the enforcement action.

Residents said they had not received prior notice that their signs violated county code and wanted an opportunity to address potential violations before the signs were removed.

“There’s no way you can know every code and every law,” McMullen said. “I know ignorance isn’t an excuse under the law, but we’re all in this together. We all live here.”

County cites code violations

Giles said some people who support his project had recently called him privately to complain about the signs. He assumes they contacted the county’s code enforcement hotline but said he had not asked them directly. He also said he is not in the neighborhood every day and does not regularly drive its streets, so he does not know when signs are being removed.

“I’m just assuming,” Giles said. “I’m not getting into this, like online discussions.”

According to county case details, code enforcement inspector Brady Sullivan removed signs he observed along North Road, Gail Boulevard and Lorraine Avenue after a complaint was filed. Sullivan documented removing 34 signs from North Road and two more from Lorraine Avenue. His report also describes interactions with McMullen and McMullen’s neighbor.

A public right of way is land reserved for public use along a road and can extend beyond the pavement into roadside grass. The county’s Land Development Code prohibits permanent signs in county rights of way without a permit and authorizes the removal of signs that violate its regulations.

Since the removals, many residents have put their signs back up, either farther into their yards or on fences rather than in the ground.

Developer prepares revised plan

Giles said the project team expects to submit a revised application to Collier County in the next couple of weeks. The team received the county’s response to its initial submission about a week ago and is making changes to address the county’s requests, including adjustments to the site plan.

More details will be available after the revised plan is submitted.