European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - November 1, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Houses line the waterfront at venetian Bay in Maples fl�., which has teen described As the fastest growing metropolitan area in the United states. I there arc dozens of banns. Where As recently As 1960 the Only Bank in Collier county was in tiny Everglades City now. Mueller says the financial Competition is feverish he stockbrokers. The realtors the lawyers Are coming in to try to make their million " Yoy can t always have your Utopia to yourself. Growth is inevitable. Ii in has to come let s do it right " mrs. Fitzpatrick is colder county s growth management coordinator a position just recently created we can t Stop growth she says but we can control growth " her gob stems irom landmark stale legislation passed in 1935-86 As Florida s politicians tried to bridle growth m a slate that has swelled in population irom 5 million in 1960 and is expected to have 20 million residents by the year �000 every Florida county Musl submit plans in 1989 detailing How every Inch of their land will be used. Florida which his no state income tax last april extended ils 5 percent safes tax to services including advertising lawyers tees and construction. The controversy expansion of the sales lax is expected to generate $761 million this fiscal year. However a special statewide commission reported earlier i his year that with an average of 893 people moving to Florida each Day. It will Cost $52.9 billion to pay Lor growth related needs such As new roads and new schools Over the next 10 years it staggers the mind says Tom Pelham head of the state s department of Community affairs in Tallahassee. A special concern in the stale that was discovered by Spanish explorer Juan Ponce de Leon during his search for the mythical Fountain of youth is the Large number w elderly people. While there were Only 123.000 americans Over age 85 at the turn of the Century there Ore today 173.000 Over 85 in Florida alone with longer lives meaning More years of retirement the sunny Peninsula has More than 2 million people Over age 65. A population segment that has doubled in the past decade and a half. Projections released in july by the University of Florida Bureau of economic and business research indicate there will be 364,000 people Over age 85 in the year 2000 what these numbers Tell me is there s going to be a much heavier demand put on both private and Public services Over the next decade especially in the area of health care says John c. Henretta a researcher with the University s Center Tor gerontological studies. The continuing Stream of people is also putting intense pressure on the environment. An increasingly vocal and Well organized environmental Tabby is insisting that More be done to protect the Many sensitive wetlands. Florida is a Bell weather slate. How Florida manages its growth is going to continue to be a major Issue National Audubon society head Peter Berle told the annual Everglades coalition meeting this year in Naples growth has brought the need for Mote roads and better planned roads More schools for a student population projected to Rise irom 17,000 now to �8,000 within a decade expanded sewage disposal systems and importantly housing affordable Lor the thousands of employees needed in the growing tourism and service industries the average condominium Sale was about $ 126,000 last year while the average single family Homo Solo was $146.000 even if All new construction hailed tomorrow the apart meals. Condominiums and subdivisions already under Way could add 200.000 to 300,000 More people to Collier county when completed despite the frenetic Pace of development there s lil tie panic. The air s clean the crime rate has grown More slowly limn the population and while traffic is congested it s not nearly so bad As in other South Florida cities. Realistically we can double the amount of people Wilh no major  says Arnold Glass a retired Navy intelligence officer and a county commissioner we be seen the mistakes thai have been made elsewhere the crowds the traffic the Concrete canyons we know what we Don t want we re nol going to let it happen  keeping the City different has been the history of Naples. The Early settlers such As Louisville court of journal publisher Waller Haldeman. Who bought 8.700 acres in 1875 Lor $1 50 each were dedicated to creating and preserving a resort enclave. Rose Cleveland the sister of president Grover Cleveland and his social first lady until he became the first president married in the White House in 1886. Was another Early resident. Until 1920, virtually the Only Way to gel to Naples was by a 49-passenger Steamer Terry then construction began on the Tamami Trail  41. Which crosses the Everglades to Miami the lies rail link was completed in 1926 by that time the City had been Pfaller with a care that has been maintained. There Are no High rises along the City proper s beaches and there Ore 36 Access roads Wilh Small parking areas leading the Public to seven Miles of while Sand. A wooden t ,000-foot fishing pier blown Down three times by hurricanes offers fishing strolling Pelican feeding and gorgeous sunsets local rules can seem Down Ghl Pei Snickey keep garage doors open no longer than 20 minutes Don t Wash your car in the driveway Don t Pak your boat in your driveway no Beer so a on sunday and no drinking on the Beach at All no for Sale signs on vehicles no posting of gasoline prices other than on the service station pumps. Most of the 100 Miles separating Naples irom fort Lauderdale due Easl across the Florida state Road 84 Alligator Alley Are Everglades and big Cypress swampland the final Refuge of the Cash match 30 surviving Florida panthers. To the Southeast is the land of 10.000 islands saw grass and swamp and 30 Miles to the Northeast lie the sugar Cane Citrus and Vego Lable Fields where haitian and mexican migrant workers toil much of the Money in co flier county comos trom stocks interest and other such payments while the average income of Woi Keis was $14,000 in 19b6. The median personal income was estimated at �31,000 the target of the 10.000 Everglades islands the 7,000-acre Marco Island is 16 Miles irom Naples it boomed first lumping irom a fishing Village of 550 in 1960 to some 9.000 on a crowded Island of condominiums luxury hotels and posh residences to elegant Riti Cartta hotel which opened two if Tan ago la pit of rapid new growth of Naples Al. The stars and stripes Page 15