Everglades Edge: Luxury Car Club Sparks Green Outrage

Plans for "The Hyper Club," a luxury motorsports club and residential community, on the western edge of Florida's Everglades have ignited significant opposition from environmental groups. The project, proposed for a 543-acre site in Collier County, includes residential estate lots, a performance testing track, and recreational areas.

The South Florida Wildlands Association is leading the charge against the development, citing potential harm to wildlife and wetlands. Their primary concern is the displacement of Florida panthers, potentially increasing fatal vehicle collisions and territorial aggression. The proposed construction would involve draining onsite wetlands, a critical issue given the site's proximity to protected lands like the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge and Picayune Strand State Forest.

Developers, Naples Racing Resort LLC, purchased the site for $10 million in 2024 and are pursuing permits for a Planned Unit Development Amendment and a Growth Management Plan Amendment. The project could include up to 100 residences and short-stay accommodations. Federal agencies, including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, are reviewing the permit application under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act, with a deadline for comments recently passed.