Verandah, Lee County

Permitting for Verandah, a 1,456-acre gated community developed by Bonita Bay Group, presented a variety of challenges. The golf course community and related commercial development were planned for a 1.75-mile stretch along the historic Orange River in eastern Lee County.

Passarella & Associates provided wetland delineations, vegetation mapping, listed species surveys, wetland mitigation design and habitat-management plans for listed species. Permitting services included the preparation of South Florida Water Management District and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers applications, preparation of agency responses and permit negotiations. The project included negotiations with the Save the Manatee Club, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services, Lee County and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for potential impacts to the manatee for facilities in the Orange River. In addition, the site had recorded panther telemetry points, requiring off-site mitigation.

During the planning process, portions of the site-development plan were reworked to impact as few trees as possible; historic flowways interrupted by previous agrarian uses were restored; wetland, uplands and conservation areas were expanded; natural habitat was restored and enhanced for the diverse wildlife populations; and a perpetual conservation easement along the Orange River was developed to ensure the future integrity of its unique ecosystem.

Passarella & Associates’ efforts helped secure the project’s approval. Residential sales began for Verandah in early 2003, and in 2006, the community won the Florida Association of Realtors’ Environmental (ENVY) Award, given to a residential community that demonstrates great care in preserving Florida’s unique environment.

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