Collier County Florida Rural Lands Stewardship (RLS) Program

in Collier County Florida to Preserve Sensitive Wetlands. Under RLS guidelines, for every acre developed, preservation of wildlife habitat and other natural ecosystems is required.

The Rural Lands Stewardship Area (RLSA) program was established under the Future Land Use Element (FLUE) of the Growth Management Plan (GMP). Its objective is the creation of an incentive-based land use overlay system based on the principles of rural land stewardship found in Florida Statutes, Section 163.3177(11), including environmental preservation, agricultural preservation and smart growth development.

Through the RLSA program, Stewardship Sending Areas (SSAs) can be approved for preservation purposes, creating credits to entitle Stewardship Receiving Areas (SRAs), typically towns, villages, hamlets and compact rural developments (CRDs). The credit system is designed to incentivize preservation of the most import environmental lands, including large, connected wetland systems and significant habitat for listed species, by awarding higher credit values for high value preservation areas.

The policies that implement these concepts are contained in 5 groups. Group 1 policies describe the structure and organization of the RLSA overlay. Group 2 policies relate to agriculture. Group 3 Policies relate to natural resource protection. Group 4 policies relate to the conversion of land to other uses, development, and economic diversification. Group 5 policies ensure that land not voluntarily included in the overlay by its owners nevertheless meet 5 minimum requirements.

Rural Lands Stewardship Area Overlay (RLSA)

Goal: To address the long-term needs of residents and property owners within the Immokalee Area Study boundary of the Collier County Rural and Agricultural Area Assessment by protecting agricultural activities, preventing the premature conversion of agricultural land to non-agricultural uses, directing incompatible uses away from wetlands and upland habitat, enabling the conversion of rural land to other uses in appropriate locations, discouraging urban sprawl, and encouraging development that implements creative land use planning techniques.

Objective: Create an incentive based land use overlay system, herein referred to as the Collier County Rural Lands Stewardship Area Overlay, based on the principles of rural land stewardship as defined in Chapter 163.3177(11), F.S. The Policies that implement this Goal and Objective are set forth below in groups relating to each aspect of the Goal. Group 1 policies describe the structure and organization of the Collier County Rural Lands Stewardship Area Overlay. Group 2 policies relate to agriculture, Group 3 policies relate to natural resource protection, and Group 4 policies relate to conversion of land to other uses and economic diversification. Group 5 are regulatory policies that ensure that land that is not voluntarily included in the Overlay by its owners shall nonetheless meet the minimum requirements of the Final Order pertaining to natural resource protection

RLSA GROUP 1

Group 1 ‒General purpose and structure of the Collier County Rural Lands Stewardship Area Overlay

RLSA GROUP 2

Group 2 – Policies to protect agricultural lands from premature conversion to other uses and continue the viability of agricultural production through the Collier County Rural Lands Stewardship Area Overlay.

RLSA GROUP 3

Group 3 – Policies to protect water quality and quantity and maintain the natural water regime, as well as listed animal and plant species and their habitats by directing incompatible uses away from wetlands and upland habitat through the establishment of Flow way Stewardship Areas, Habitat Stewardship Areas, and Water Retention Areas, where lands are voluntarily included in the Rural Lands Stewardship Area program.

RLSA GROUP 4

Group 4 ‒ Policies to enable conversion of rural lands to other uses in appropriate locations, while discouraging urban sprawl, and encouraging development that utilizes creative land use planning techniques by the establishment of Stewardship Receiving Areas.

RLSA GROUP 5

Group 5 ‒ Policies that protect water quality and quantity and the maintaining of the natural water regime and protect listed animal and plant species and their habitats on land that is not voluntarily included in the Rural Lands Stewardship Area program.

AVE MARIA HOMES FOR SALE IN NAPLES FLORIDA