Visioning, master planning, and environmental permitting for a sustainable Florida community

Babcock Ranch

Buffered by state-owned preservation lands, the Babcock Ranch master planned community is being developed with sustainable infrastructure for future generations of Southwest Florida. Previously used for active agriculture and mining, the site is approved for 19,000 units and 6 million square feet of retail, office, and public space.

Due to its size and Florida’s rapid growth, the Babcock Ranch development required a close public/private partnership between our client and surrounding community leaders. Stantec worked on the visioning, master plan, land use entitlements, a new zoning code for entitlements, and environmental planning for the community. The plan’s long-range vision includes promoting interconnectivity to the region, maximizing the preservation of natural resources, a network of hierarchical greenways, integrated smart AV, and a sustainable community that employs both green development and green building techniques.

The result is the first solar community in the United States—a responsibly developed, water conscious, and walkable community utilizing energy efficient building standards.