Collier’s $20.7M land purchase opens door for park, housing

The deal began with Collier County seeking about 150 acres to turn into a regional park near Immokalee. It ended with one of Southwest Florida’s largest and most lucrative land deals of the year, one purchased with public money.

Collier County closed Sept. 18 on a 2,247-acre agricultural property in northeastern Collier County, paying $20.7 million for land adjacent to Lake Trafford and west and southwest of Immokalee, where State Road 29 bends.

The transaction finalized a deal that had been in the works since Collier County commissioners approved the purchase in May 2024.

The county purchased the land off Lake Trafford Road from Diane R. Williams and Carrie E. Williams, co-trustees of the James E. Williams nonexempt estate tax-sheltered trust. The sellers were unavailable for comment.

Billy Rollins and Hunter Ward of LSI Companies Inc. brokered the deal on behalf of the sellers.

“What they originally were looking at it for was a regional park,” Rollins said of Collier County. “They were looking at this 150-some acres. And they said, ‘Wait a minute. Why don’t we look at the entire property. We could do workforce housing on part of this. We could do a regional park.’ And it really came down to having more options with it. It was kind of a win-win for everybody.”

A large swath of the land is still being used for farming of tomatoes, bell peppers and other crops, Rollins said.

Homebuilders may have been interested, but the timing and market conditions weren’t favorable for development, Rollins said.

“Builders and developers are always looking,” Rollins said. “But it’s always based on timing. The timing wasn’t there for a builder opportunity. But for the county, it was the perfect opportunity and perfect timing.”

Part of the property already has been rezoned and entitled for about 300 residential units, Rollins said, contributing to the final sale price.

A Collier County Clerk of Courts report detailed how the purchase will be funded. About $11.9 million will come from the county’s Conservation Collier fund, while $1.8 million will be drawn from the parks department fund. Another $5.95 million will come from the affordable housing entitled fund, and $1.1 million will come from the affordable housing not entitled fund.

Future uses of the land will include conservation, housing, parks and recreation, transportation, stormwater management, economic development and potential co-location of fire operations with Immokalee Fire and Rescue District, the clerk’s report states.