Collier County gives the town of Big Cypress its final OK, and building will start soon

The plans for a new town in rural Collier County have hit a turning point.

Late in June, county officials quietly approved the new town that had been in the works for years.
At a meeting of the county commission on June 27, the town, which was planned by Collier Enterprises, got final approval along with three separate, undisputed items.

A town and two villages
Collier Enterprises is building two new towns called Rivergrass and Bellmar. The town will link the two towns. With the addition of about 544 acres, it will replace the developer’s third approved town, Longwater. Off Oil Well Road, east of Golden Gate Estates, the town will cover more than 1,544 acres. It will be in and around the two villages.

More than 1.5 million square feet could be used for business and government in the town. It will have a business park, retail stores, and other professional buildings that will “help create jobs and strengthen our economy.”
Big Cypress may have as many as 4,432 single-family homes and homes with more than one family living in them.
More than 716 acres, or more than 46% of the land in the town, will be kept as open space. This is more than what the county requires by 175.5 acres. 35% is the minimum number.

More than 12,000 acres of farming and wildlife habitat will be kept safe as part of the development.