The Community Character Plan began at the urging of citizens’ groups to improve the character of Collier County. The Community Character Plan examines the County’s urban design, transportation, and greenspace needs, while attempting to discern and respect the area’s varied character. Spikowski Planning Associates, Glatting Jackson, Communities By Design, and UrbanAdvantage contributed to the creation of this plan.

Toward Better Places: The Community Character Plan for Collier County is the culmination of a year’s worth of community involvement and is a blueprint for building a vital community that improves as it grows. The design team and County staff conducted a 10-day charrette, first touring the County by foot, car, boat, and plane. The public participation process kicked off with a Community Image Survey, where 327 participants identified the existing character and desired directions for growth in the County. Nine guiding principles were established for the Community Character Plan. These goals included revitalizing maturing neighborhoods; transforming conventional subdivisions; growing new neighborhoods; regarding gated communities; designing great streets; commercial architectural standards; activating the centers; and evolving the subdivided periphery.

The Plan was adopted by the Board of County Commissioners in April 2001. That summer, the Commission held a workshop about implementing the Plan, deciding first to fund citizen-initiated community plans and then specific projects. The Community Character Plan won the EDRA/Places Award for 2001-2002 and an Award of Excellence from the Florida Chapter of the American Planning Association.

Below: Naples Town

Below: Naples Park