Collier issues stop-work order to developer

Jason Lauritsen/Special to the Daily News

Ronto carved this S-shaped road out of the proposed Parklands project, before developer Ronto obtained permits. South Florida Water Management District issued a notice of violation to Ronto on June 7, addressed to Brian Farrar, Ronto's land development director.

Collier County officials are forcing a developer to halt construction on a north Collier project because work going on in wetlands.

The county has issued a stop-work order to Ronto Development for its 622-acre residential and commercial project just south of Bonita Beach Road. The South Florida Water Management District issued a notice of violation to Ronto on June 7, but that notification didn’t include a stop-work order.

The water management district has investigated complaints of an S-shaped road under construction that was visible in aerial photographs taken May 26. A ground inspection was performed June 1.

The project was continued indefinitely last year so Ronto could resolve road and traffic issues to satisfy county officials.

Part of Ronto’s plan is to extend Logan Boulevard – which currently ends at Vanderbilt Beach Road -- north to the Parklands Lee County project.

Collier commissioners last month approved Ronto’s request to change Parklands’ designation from a planned unit development to a community development district, which means homes and stores.

Environmentalists say Ronto shouldn’t have been allowed to break ground on the project until it fulfilled some of the conditions called for in a water district permit issued in 2003.