Plans For Asphalt, Concrete Plants In Florida Postponed

Winchester Lakes Corp. is no longer pursuing a plan to build asphalt and concrete plants near the Golden Gate Estates district in Collier County.

After announcing its intention to build the plants on 654 acres off of in Collier County, Fla., Winchester Lakes was immediately up against frustrated residents angry that the development would be so close to residential neighborhoods.

Last year, the corporation applied for a conditional use permit from Collier County because asphalt and concrete plants are not on the list of permitted uses in that area. Kent said officials do not plan to withdraw the permit application, but, he said, "we may let it run out and die."

The application will likely expire within the next eight months, he said. In the meantime, he may try to contact community leaders to see if they would consider changing their minds.

The property in question, which the corporation now owns, is being leased to Big Island Excavation, which representatives say will be there for another year or so.

According to a spokesman for the company the area generates 115,000 one-way truck trips a year. If the plants were to be built on the 654 acres, they would require 55,000 one-way truck trips a year.

Don Scott, with the county's transportation department, said if the asphalt and concrete plants are built in the area, the number of truck trips would likely be reduced because it would mean several trucks wouldn't have to drive a long distance. The closer the area, the more often a business can use the same truck to deliver and meet the same demand.

County Commissioner Jim Coletta, who represent the Golden Gate Estates district, said he had serious reservations about the plants because of the negative feedback it received from the residents. He said it didn't make sense to put the plants near a residential neighborhood. Naples Daily News