South Naples citrus grove could turn into housing development

A South Naples citrus grove could be squeezed out.

Plans to rezone the land could turn orange trees into over 400 homes.

WINK News reporter Bridget Bruchalski spoke with customers to see how they feel.

The rows of orange trees stretch as far as the eye can see. The grove has been a South Naples staple for nearly 50 years. Now, a developer wants to build hundreds of homes there.

Just outside the picayune strand state forest, this spot still has that old Florida charm. A giant orange on the hill gives you a clue. Inside the stand, fresh oranges come straight from the branch and are bagged to-go.

For regulars, it’s a hidden gem, one that they fear could be all paved over.

“We've seen massive development," said Naples local Chris Briggs. "I've been told that it's over 8000 new homes up Collier in just the last few years. What has made Naples, the place where 40% of the people that I met moved based on impulse, was the beauty of the natural habitat, the small town feel?"

Briggs wants a compromise.

"They could keep an orange grove as an educational facility, as what's indicative of Florida, what so many people throughout the United States think of when they think of Florida," Briggs said.

Bruchalski spoke with the citrus grove owners off camera. They said they're still open for business as usual this season.

On Tuesday, county commissioners will decide whether to approve the rezoning. WINK News reached out to commissioner Rick LoCastro and have yet to hear back. Once we do, we'll be sure to bring you the latest.