After a lengthy public planning process that combined residents' desires and ideas with those of professional planners, Collier commissioners Tuesday unanimously adopted a plan for the re-use of the Charles E. Kelly Support Facility, which is scheduled to be closed by the military.
The plan, which board President Roger Horgan described as a recommendation that must be approved by the military, would affect nearly 130 acres on two parcels in Collier and one 13-acre site in Neville.
The largest area in Collier, known as the Main Post, sits between the Rennerdale and Oakdale areas. Under the re-use plan, its western half would be used for recreation, including six ball fields.
A neighborhood commercial area would be developed adjacent to Nike Site Road and the eastern side would see flexible office and civic uses.
The 12-acre site west of the Presto neighborhood would be used for single-family homes, recreation and two acres of open space.
In Neville, the buildings to the north of Grand Avenue would be renovated and two new industrial buildings would be erected on the south property. A new street would connect Neville Road and Grand Avenue.
The preferred concepts for the sites were culled from eight alternative conceptual designs.
Collier officials seemed pleased with the Kelly Center Local Redevelopment Authority results.
"All in all, I do think it reflects fairly well on what our community would like to have happen," Mr. Horgan said. "We believe this is an appropriate re-use of this facility."
The Kelly facility has been scheduled to close by the Base Realignment and Closure Commission. The approved re-use plan will serve as a general policy guide.