EAST NAPLES — On Monday evening, the Sabal Palm development team ventured into the unpredictable terrain of public opinion at the South Regional Library, hosting a Neighborhood Information Meeting that drew roughly 60 nearby residents — about 60 more than the developers had hoped for.

What was intended to be a courteous slideshow followed by polite applause quickly morphed into what attendees called a “rare and stunning display of unanimous community opposition.” Rather than lining up to thank the developers for denser traffic, higher water bills, and another “luxury” subdivision adorned with palm trees, waterfalls, and the inevitable scent of HOA fees, every single speaker — yes, 100% — voiced their objections.

Residents raised concerns ranging from flooding, congestion, and environmental damage to the growing perception that East Naples is slowly becoming “West Miami with worse roads.”

The developers stuck to their standard responses, delivering classics like:

• “We hear you.” (Translation: No, we really don’t.)

• “We’ll conduct studies.” (Translation: We already did, and surprise — everything checked out fine.)

• “This will benefit the community.” (Translation: Mostly the investors’ yacht club memberships.)

Attendees described the atmosphere as “united, frustrated, and deeply skeptical,” which one planning official admitted is “pretty much the opposite of how these meetings are supposed to go.”

Still, the Sabal Palm team can take comfort in one thing: while the community’s opposition was unanimous, history shows bulldozers tend to have the final say.

In the end, the night gave residents a chance to vent, developers some content for their Community Engagement Report, and Collier County officials a convenient talking point to say, “We listened.” Everyone walked away with exactly what they expected: nothing changed.