Rural Lands Stewardship Area Overlay Plan

• In November 2020, The Board of County Commissioner's voted to approve the transmittal of the  Draft Rural Lands Stewardship Area (RLSA) Overlay Amendments to the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO). DEO is the State agency responsible for coordinating the State review of Collier County's Growth Management Plan amendments. Their review is complete and they have issued their Objections, Recommendations and Comments Report.

  Next, the RLSA amendments will go back to the Planning Commission and the Board of County Commissioners for final adoption. It is anticipated that the hearings will begin in April 2021. Dates will be posted here when confirmed.

• To date, the implementation of the Rural Land Stewardship Plan has protected over 50,000 acres of habitat, flow ways and agriculture, and directed growth to more sustainable mixed-use patterns.

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.

Department of Florida: Final Order AC-99-002

Program information:   

Current Stewardship Credits

Group 1 thru 5 Policies - CURRENT Future Land Use Element (FLUE)
 
Attachment A - Stewardship Credit Worksheet- 2002

Attachment B - Land Use Matrix - 2002

Attachment C - Stewardship Receiving Area Characteristics- 2002

RLSA Natural Resource Index Map Series Entire Study Area Map - 2002:

 Northeast Study Area Map

Northwest Study Area Map

Southwest Study Area Map

East Central Study Area Map

West Central Study Area Map

RLSA Procedures Guide - 6/2003
 

Supporting Documents for Program Creation: 

RLSA Overlay participation is voluntary and has specific goals

Rural Lands Stage 1 Report - 12/2000

Rural Lands Stage 2 Report - 4/2001

Main Rural Lands Final Report Immokalee Area Study - 5/2002 

RLSA Ground Water Memorandum - 9/2002

Public Hearing:

Transmittal Resolution 2002-273

BCC Transmittal Executive Summary - 6/2002

CCPC Transmittal Hearing Minutes - 5/2002

BCC Transmittal Hearing Minutes - 6/2002 

SWFRPC to DCA - 8/2002

ORC Response 1 - 10/2002

ORC Response 2 - 10/2002

Adoption Ordinance 2002-54

BCC Adoption Executive Summary - 10/2002

CCPC Adoption Hearing Minutes - 10/2002

BCC Adoption Hearing Minutes RLSA p 106-210 - 10/2002

Forms:

SSA Application

SRA Application

(A) REPORT

The Collier County Growth Management Plan (FLUE RLSA 1.22) requires a five-year review of the Rural Lands Stewardship Area (RLSA) Overlay to assess the participation in and effectiveness of the Overlay in meeting the goals, objectives and policies set forth in the Future Land Use Element of the Growth Management Plan (GMP). The review was comprised of two phases, the first being a technical report by staff prior to any public participation, which was subsequently reviewed by the Rural Lands Stewardship Area Review Committee. The second phase took a broader approach to reviewing the RLSA program. The committee evaluated and recommended policies to strengthen and more effectively meet the policy goals in the GMP. The Committee reported its findings to the BCC in April 2009.

GMP FLUE RLSA 1.22:

The RLSA Overlay was designed to be a long-term strategic plan with a planning horizon Year of 2025. Many of the tools, techniques and strategies of the Overlay were new, Innovative and incentive based. A comprehensive review of the Overlay was prepared for and reviewed by Collier County and the Department of Community Affairs upon the five-year anniversary of the adoption of the Stewardship District in the LDC. Elements of the five-year review included:

1. Identify the amount of land designated as Flowway Stewardship Areas (FSA), Habitat Stewardship Areas (HAS), Water Retention Areas (WRA) and other Stewardship Sending Areas (SSA).

2. The amount and location of land designated as Stewardship Receiving Areas (SRA).

3. The number of Stewardship Credits generated, assigned or held for future use.

4. A comparison of the amount, location and type of Agriculture that existed at the time of study and time of review.

5. The amount, location and type of land converted to non-agricultural use with and without participation in the Stewardship Credit System since its adoption.

6. The extent and use of funding provided by Collier County and other sources of Local, State, Federal and private revenues described in Policy 1.18.

7. The amount, location and type of restoration through participation in the Stewardship Credit System since its adoption.

8. The potential for use of Credits in urban areas.

BCC Approved Resolution 2007-305A  - 6/2007

Rural Lands Stewardship Area Review Committee members Public participation in the five year review

Executive Summary REVISED

• Attachment A
• Attachment B: CCPC Recommendations
• Attachment C: EAC Recommendations and RLSA Committee Responses
• Attachment D: RLSA Committee Request for Special GMP Amendment Cycle
• Attachment E-1: Comprehensive Planning County Projects, 2008-2011 (table)
• Attachment E-2: Comprehensive Planning County Projects, 2008-2011 (Gantt chart)
• Attachment E-3: Comprehensive Planning Misc Projects, 2008-2011 (table)
• Attachment E-4: Comprehensive Planning Misc Projects, 2008-2011 (Gantt chart)
• Attachment E-5: Comprehensive Planning State Projects, 2008-2011 (table)
• Attachment E-6: Comprehensive Planning State Projects, 2008-2011 (Gantt chart)
• Attachment E-7: Comprehensive Planning Federal Projects, 2008-2011 (table)
• Attachment E-8: Comprehensive Planning Federal Projects, 2008-2011 (Gantt chart)

RELATED DOCUMENTS:

• RLSA Policy Chart
• PowerPoint (in PDF): 21Apr09 RLSA 5-Year Review Committee Report to BCC

COMMITTEE FINDINGS & RECOMMENDATIONS:

VOLUME 1

• Cover and Preface 
• Preface PowerPoint
• Table of Contents 
• Phase I Report-Technical Review 

Phase II Report- Review of the Rural Lands Stewardship Area Overlay

• Section 1: Major Committee-recommended revisions to improve the Rural Lands Stewardship Area Overlay 
• Section 2: All Committee-recommended revisions to the improve the Rural Lands Stewardship Area Overlay 
• Section 3: Supporting Documentation
• Section 4: Public Participation and Comments, Committee Deliberations and Committee Actions 
• Section 5: Committee-recommended new Policy 3.7 of the Transportation Element of the GMP

Phase II Report- Conceptual Plans

• Conceptual 2025 RLSA Roadway Network Plan
• Conceptual RLSA Buildout Roadway Network Plan
• RLSA Overlay Conceptual Map
• RLSA 2025 Conceptual Development Plan
• RLSA 2050 Conceptual Development Plan

VOLUME 2 - Appendices/Supporting Documents

• Cover
• Table of Contents
• Appendices and Support Documents A-U
• V - "Ag Business in Southwest Florida Present and Future" dated June 6, 2007; Source: FGCU
• W - "Florida Panther Habitat Selection Analysis of Concurrent GPS and VHF Telemetry Data"; Source: Journal of Wildlife Conservation
• X - "Working to Sustain Florida’s Rural and Natural lands and a Call to Action"; Source: 1000 Friends of Florida, October, 2007
• Y - "The Immokalee Area Study Stage II Technical Memorandum-Groundwater Issues" [updated September 22, 2002] in response to DCA ORC Report; Source: CDM Missner
• Z - "Rural Lands Stewardship-An Opportunity for Enhancing Florida Panther Conservation"; Source:  Darrel Land, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
• AA - "Economic Benefits Provided by the Conservation of Natural and Agricultural Lands: Southwest Florida Case Study"; Source Timm Kroeger, Conservation Economics Program-Defenders of Wildlife
• BB - Rural Land Stewardship 2007 Annual Report from DCA
• CC - Letter dated February 12, 2008 from James Mudd to Tom Pelham transmitting the Phase I Technical Report
• DD - Letter dated March 24, 2008 from James Mudd to Tom Pelham in response to DCA’s Rural Land Stewardship (RLS) 2007 Annual Report to the Legislator
• EE - Letter dated May 8, 2008 from Tom Pelham of DCA to James Mudd in response to James Mudd’s March 24, 2008 letter with respect to the 2007 Annual Report to the Legislature
• FF - Letter dated May 14, 2008 from Tom Pelham to Jim Coletta in response to Commissioner Coletta’s February 8, 2008 letter of February 8, 2008
• GG - Staff memo dated August 5, 2008 to Committee regarding Florida Panther Protection Program
• HH - Memo dated 2/27/08 from Judith Huchon, EAC Vice Chair, to Tom Greenwood with comments on RLSA Phases 1 and 2
• II - Nancy Payton/FWF list of issues and concerns about the RLSA as of November 5, 2007
• JJ - Conservancy of SW Florida November 14, 2007 memo regarding RLSA
• KK - Mark Strain RLSA Discussion Items compiled from December, 2005 and Updated April 2, 2008
• LL - Naples Cultural Landscape... "Feasibility Study for the Restoration of Historical Sites in Collier County and Guidelines to Establish a Proposed Cultural Heritage Trail" [presented to the Committee]
• MM - Full copies of RLSA Review Committee meeting minutes of December 11, 2008 AND November 10, October 28, October 14, October 7, September 30, September 23, September 16, September 2, August 5, July 15, July 1, June 17, June 3, May 6, April 1, March 4, February 5, January 22, 2008; December 4, 2007; and November 20, 2007
• NN - Eastern Collier County Water Resources Availability Johnson Engineering 11May09 Updated Report

COMMITTEE MEETINGS: 

AGENDA	MINUTES	ADD'L INFO
11/20/07	11/20/07
12/04/07	12/04/07
1/22/08	1/22/08
2/5/08	2/5/08
3/4/08	3/4/08
4/1/08	4/1/08
5/6/08	5/6/08
6/3/08	6/3/08
6/17/08	6/17/08
7/1/08	7/1/08
7/15/08	7/15/08
8/5/08	8/5/08
Mtg. Cancelled	Continued to 9/2/08
9/02/08	9/02/08
9/16/08	9/16/08
9/23/08	9/23/08
9/30/08	9/30/08
10.07/08	10/07/08
10/14/08	10/14/08
Mtg. Cancelled	Continued to 10/28/08
10/28/08	10/28/08
11/10/08	11/10/08
12/11/08	12/11/08
12/18/08	12/18/08
01/06/09	01/06/09	01/06/09 Mtg Support Data
1/16/09	1/16/09
1/23/09	1/23/09
3/03/09	3/03/09
3/12/09	3/12/09
3/26/09	3/26/09
6/05/09	6/05/09

(B) DOCUMENTS

ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTATION (CHRONOLOGICAL): Some documents are rather large and may take a few minutes to open:

RLSA 2007 Growth Management Plan

RLSA 2007 Land Development Code

Florida 2060-Report-Final - 8/2006

RLSA Review - BCC Approved Resolution 2007-173 - 6/2007

Project Management Plan for RLSA 5-year Review - 7/2007 

Committee Schedule - 11/2007

Committee PowerPoint Presentation - 11/2007 

RLSA Review Committee Presentation - 12/4/2007 

DCA RLSA 2007 Report to Legislature - 12/2007 

Technical Review Final Report 2-13-08 - 2/2008 

Review of Rural Lands Stewardship Area Overlay Draft Working Paper - 5/2008 

Economic Benefits of Preservation Natural & Ag Lands - 6/2008

Staff Report to CCPC for meeting - 12/2008 

How Much is Enough (PDF of PPT from CCPC – 2/2009 

Eastern Collier Water Resource Availability- Johnson Engineering to T. Jones (12Mar09 Committee Mtg) - 3/2009

Report to BCC, Transcript - 4/2009

Summary Transcript of BCC actions - 4/2009

5 Year Review Committee Completion Letter - 6/2009

Technical Review of Panther Protection - 10/2009

Panther (Power Point) Preservation by Darrell Land

DCA Draft RLSA Rule

APPROVED STEWARDSHIP SENDING AREAS LOG:

Stewardship Sending Area Log - Approved (w/pending) SSA's (6/23/2020)

RLSA Overlay Status Map (11/2017)

RLSA SSA Land Characteristics Summary  (Updated 3/19/2019)


APPROVED STEWARDSHIP SENDING AREA (SSA) AGREEMENTS & RESOLUTIONS:

SSA 1 -4 Adopted Resolutions - 3/2004, 4/2004, and 5/2004

SSA 1-4 Easement Agreements - 3/2004, 4/2004, and 5/2004

SSA 5-9 Adopted Resolutions - 9/2004, 6/2005, 5/2006, 3/2007

SSA 5-9 Easement Agreements - 9/2004, 6/2005, 5/2006, 3/2007
(less rescinded SSA #8)

SSA #5A Resolution - 5/2005

SSA 10 Adopted Resolution - 3/2009 

SSA 10 Easement Agreement - 3/2009

SSA 10 Extension Resolution - 2/2018

SSA 11 Adopted Resolution - 6/2008

SSA 11 Easement Agreement - 6/2008

SSA 12 Adopted Resolution - 2/2010

SSA 12 Easement Agreement - 2/2010

SSA 12 Extension Resolution - (2018)

SSA 13 Adopted Resolution - 12/2009

SSA 13 Easement Agreement - 12/2009

SSA 13 Extension Resolution - 11/2014

SSA 14 Adopted Resolution - 11/2008
SSA 15 Adopted Resolution - 11/2008
SSA 16 Adopted Resolution - 11/2008

SSA 14-16 Easement Agreements - 11/2008

SSA 14 Extension Resolution - 10/2017

SSA 15 Extension Resolution - 10/2017

SSA 16 Extension Resolution - 10/2017

SSA #14 Amendment Resolution - Pending 

SSA #15 Amendment Resolution - (2020)

SSA #16 Amendment Resolution - Pending

SSA #17 Adopted Resolution - Pending

APPROVED STEWARDSHIP RECEIVING AREAS (SRA's):

AVE MARIA STEWARDSHIP DISTRICT APPROVAL:

Resolution #2003-381 - 10/2003

Developer Contribution Agreement - 4/2005

Resolution No. 2005-234A SRA -  Interlocal Agreement - 9/2005

Zoning Location Map

BIG CYPRESS STEWARDSHIP DISTRICT APPROVAL:

Resolution #2003-380 - 10/2003

Zoning Location Map - 2008

RIVERGRASS STEWARDSHIP DISTRICT APPROVAL:

PENDING

For historical information regarding the RLSA, please click on the following links. 

(Folder) Establishment of the Rural Lands Stewardship Area (1999 - 2002)

(Folder) 5-Year Review of the Rural Lands Stewardship Area (2007-2009)

(Folder) Rural Lands Stewardship Designated Sending and Receiving Areas (2002 - present)

 RLSA Terms and Definitions (2002) 

RLSA Land Development Code 4.08.00

Closing the Gaps In Florida Wildlife Habitat Conservation System (1994)

Fragmentation of Pine Flatwood and Marsh Communities Converted for Ranching and Citrus (1997)

How much is enough? (2006)

Florida Panther Recovery Plan (2008)

Documents since June 2009 and continuing

Technical Review: Panther Protection Program (2009) 

Memo to BCC from Nancy Linnan (2010)

Non-binding arbitration on simple majority SRA approval (2010)

Conservancy v. USFWS (2012)

FWF v. Collier County (2012)

Collier County RLSA Program Critiques and Recommendations, 1000 Friends of Florida (2013)

Adult Panther Florida Habitat (2015)

Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) (2015)

    HCP area map 

    HCP information sheet

Mapping Florida's Future - Alternative Patterns of Water Use in 2070 (2016)

Panthers v. Collier County (2016)

FL Water 2070 (2016)

Agricultural Growth and Development in FDOT District One and the Impacts to Transportation and Freight Logistics (2017)

USFWS Panther Recovery Implementation

Collier County Staff Memo: RLSA Footprint; Concept and History (February 2018)

RLSA Presentation - A Brief Tutorial (February 2018)

Population Estimates - Collier County east of CR 951 (2018)

Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) updated, Stantec (August 2018)

Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), USFWS (October 2018)

Universal Design Features in Houses (January 2019)

Environmental best management practices, web sources from FL state agencies (January 2019)

10 Yr Water Supply Facilities Work Plan190315

Noss Review of Eastern Collier MSHCP.2._final (2019)

SR29 Water Vision Draft (May 2019)

Saltwater Intrusion in the Aquifer (May 2019)

Metro Forecasting Recommendations for commercial (May 2019)

Metro Forecasting Recommendation Collier Ideal Town Size (May 2019)

Feedback Tracker

 The Feedback Tracker is a summary list of public comments made on comment cards and e-mails during and after each workshop, updated monthly.

Past Public Workshops

19.06.06 A. Olsen - Conservancy of SWFL

19.05.31 J AyersCrane - Blue Zones Project SWFL

19.06.18 Conservancy of SWFL - Why Collier County must obtain the NRI data for the RLSA program

August 3, 2020  Conservancy of Southwest Florida's Comments on the RSLA Amendment

19.05.15  Audubon comment letter

May 2019    League of Woman Voters Comments email

May 2019   SSA's Future Restoration Acres & Credits email w/attachment

May 2019    Florida Wildlife Federation Letter - Policies 1-3

March 2019 THE CONTINUED UNDERESTIMATION OF STEWARDSHIP CREDITS WITHIN THE RLSA PROGRAM by the Conservancy of SW Florida

March 2019 1000 Friends of Florida RLSA Review Comments 

19.04.09 Michael Seef

19.04.08 RLSA Asks LWVCC

19.03.26 V Williams re March 28

19.02.25 B Michaels re March 28 

19.01.19 C Hartman 

January 2019 Critique and Recommendations of Collier County's RLSA Program: 2018-2019 RLSA Restudy, Conservancy of Southwest FL

September 2018 The Fiscal Implications of Development Patterns, RLSA, Collier County, FL, Smart Growth America

09.03.18 J Hushon

08.27.18 B. Cornell

08.21.18 G Vasaturo

07.17.18 G Vasaturo and LWV

04.28.18 V Williams

04.28.18 G. Vasaturo

04.27.18 R. Hamel

04.27.18 F. Roka

04.26.18 M. Seef

04.09.18 G Vasaturo

04.07.18 E. Orsay

04.02.18 B. Michaels

03.28.18 B. Michaels

03.26.18 M Seef

03.17.18 B. Michaels

02.23.18 B. Michaels

02.22.18 G. Vasaturo

02.22.18 B.L. Gruninger

01.26.18 G. Vasaturo

01.26.18 B. Michaels