A coalition of environmental groups has filed a legal challenge over a proposed controversial golf course community in northern Collier County. The project recently won unanimous approval from the South Florida Water Management District’s governing board.
A coalition of environmental groups has filed a petition against the South Florida Water Management District – and the developer of the proposed Mirasol golf community in Collier County. The Water Management District’s Governing Board unanimously approved the project a week ago. The U-S Army Corps of Engineers denied a federal permit for a nearly identical version of the project last year. That version was also first approved by the South Florida Water Management District. The groups believe the approval was illegal and violated the District’s own criteria for water quality, public interest, flood protection and natural resources protection. Their petition asks for an administrative hearing to review the permit. The group consists of Audubon of Florida, Florida Wildlife Federation, Conservancy of Southwest Florida, Collier County Audubon Society, among others. Besides this new challenge, the Mirasol project also still needs approval from the U-S Army Corps of Engineers, and the Collier County Commission before moving forward.