Rezoning hearing for 560 S. Collier Blvd continued after notice omission; applicant requests July 31 rehearing

The Planning Board continued a rezoning hearing on Friday after a board member raised a jurisdictional concern about the public notice for REZN 24‑000098, which would rezone about 10.44 acres at 560 South Collier Boulevard from Residential Tourist to Planned Unit Development.

The board's discussion centered on a procedural omission: the application number was not included in the notice published in the Naples Daily News or in the online materials, a committee member said. He warned that omission of statutorily required notice details can create a jurisdictional defect that could render subsequent action void unless the matter is re‑noticed.

Daniel Smith, Director of Community Affairs, said he had not received the committee member's written materials; the board explored options for rehearing dates and the applicant's team, including a representative for the Hilton, requested a July 31 rehearing so flown‑in participants could attend.

Chair Bailey made a motion to continue REZN 24‑000098 to July 31 at 9 a.m.; the motion passed on a roll call in which members voted to continue and staff said they would re‑notice the application and include the application number in the newspaper advertisement.

Board members also discussed the city's pilot to phase in digital notices. One committee member reported that, in his test of the county's system, signing up for paper first‑class mail required an $8 fee plus charges per page, and he urged staff to investigate whether charging for statutorily required mail notice could be lawful or create notice gaps if citizens decline paid deliveries.

The hearing will resume on July 31 at 9 a.m., with staff expected to re‑issue the public notice including the application number as directed by the board. Any further public comment will be accepted at that rehearing.