Arthrex Plant Construction Ahead of Schedule

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Published on Tuesday, 03 April 2012 17:45

The first phase of the project to build a new Arthrex manufacturing facility in Ave Maria is about a week ahead of schedule, Barron Collier executive David Genson told the Ave Maria Stewardship Community District board Tuesday morning.

Mr. Genson said that Barron Collier will complete the work to prepare the site and lay the infrastructure by the end of this week, and will turn the site over to Arthrex, which he said is "intending to start work right away" on the 190,000-square-foot structure where more than 400 people will eventually work.

Accordiing to Mr. Genson's estimate, and that previously outlined by Arthrex, the plant should be finished in the first half of 2013.

In other items covered at the meeting:

- Mr. Genson said that specifics on a new Design Review Board, originally proposed several years ago, are nearing the final stage of approval by Collier County staff. The next step would be consideration by the county planning board, approval by the Stewardship Community District Board, and final approval by the Collier County board of commissioners. The design review board would have jurisdiction over non-residential construction and would have seven members: two "properly licensed and/or certified architects, planners, landscape architects, or engineers," one recommended by Ave Maria Development, one by AMU, one an owner, operator or representative of an independent business in Ave Maria, one a resident of the district not affiliated with the developers or the university, and one "at large" member.

- Mr. Sansbury said that Ave Maria Development (AMD) is negotiating with four potential operators of the gas station and hopes to have an agreement in place with one of them in 30-45 days. Mr. Genson added that AMD also is reactivating the permits for the site and expects to have all of them in place in 30 days.

- The board accepted the resignation of Paul Roney, the former chief financial officer of Ave Maria University, who said he could no longer serve because he is no longer a legal resident of Florida. The board will appoint someone to complete Mr. Roney's term at its next meeting.