The developers behind “The Hyper Club” are pledging to build a motorsports club and community that is mindful of the environment and thoughtful of its neighbors.
As word has quickly spread about the proposed project on the western edge of the Everglades, so, too, has the opposition to it, especially by environmental groups and activists.
In a statement, the project’s developers — the Hyper Club LLC — emphasized that they are in the “early stages of design and planning for a proposed private, low-density motorsports lifestyle community that would expand upon an existing, automotive testing facility in eastern Collier County.”
Spanning more than 530 acres, the site is located just east of Desoto Boulevard South, near 34th Avenue Southeast, north of Interstate 75’s Alligator Alley, in Collier County.
Project representatives had a pre-application meeting with county staff on June 30. According to the meeting notes, the developers intend to file for a Planned Unit Development Amendment (PUDA) and a Growth Management Plan Amendment (GMPA).
A description on the county’s Growth Management Community Development portal says the project could include up to 100 residences and up to 20 short-stay accommodations.
The proposed land use and zoning changes would allow for individual car storage by club members and an expansion and/or redesign of the test track.
While concerns have been raised about the proposed development’s impact on wildlife, especially the Florida panther, the site has operated as a secure, fenced-in automotive performance testing site for more than 40 years.
It was first used as a test site by Ford, then by Harley-Davidson, and finally by Chrysler for performance testing.
As part of the design and planning process for the new motorsports club and community, the developers have submitted an application to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for federal review and a permit to build on wetlands.
The Army Corps was accepting comments on the project up until Friday, July 24, prompting alarm and action by some environmental groups, including the South Florida Wildlands Association.
The Corps will review the impacts to wetlands and wildlife, with consultation from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, in weighing whether to approve the requested permit.
In a Facebook post last week, the Wildlands Association urged its friends and followers to sign on to its comment letter to the Army Corps. The letter-turned-petition quickly garnered nearly 1,000 supporters.
The developers seek a permit under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, which regulates wetlands.
In its statement, the development team for The Hyper Club said, “This application represents the first step in a comprehensive, multi-agency public review.”
Further, the team shared that it looked forward to meeting with neighbors and community stakeholders to share information and answer questions as the review moves forward.
The development team emphasized that “community members will have ample opportunity to provide feedback throughout the process.”
Finally, in defense of the project, the team said: “The Hyper Club represents the thoughtful evolution of a property with a long-established automotive use. Its vision is to preserve the property’s 40-year automotive legacy, while creating a world-class private destination that is compatible with its surroundings and contributes to the long-term future of eastern Collier County.”
The founders of The Hyper Club are Bruce Bond, a Naples businessman and car enthusiast, and John DeAngelis, a co-founder and co-chairman of DeAngelis Diamond, a major construction management firm headquartered in Naples.
This article originally appeared on Marco Eagle: Developers tout eco-minded car club, but critics remain concerned
Reporting by Laura Layden, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Marco Eagle
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Laura Layden, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida | USA TODAY Network
