Estero Development Report

Volume 5, Number 2
Issued June 2005
Edited by ECCL--the Estero Council of Community Leaders

For further information, to provide information or to add names to our mailing list,
Email Don Eslick at doneslick@comcast.net or call him at 949-4050

Index

• Calendar
• Traffic and Roadwork during the Next Two “Seasons”
• Roadway Funding Issues and Actions
• County Road 951 Presentations
• 2005 – 2007 Roadway Monitor
• Roadway Landscaping Update
  • Estero Parkway from US 41 to Three Oaks Parkway
  • US 41 from Old 41 in Bonita Springs to Corkscrew Road
• Commercial Project Status Updates
• Former Coconut Road/US 41 Wal-Mart Site
• June Design Reviews by the Estero Design Review Committee
  • Lowe’s at Estero Town Commons
  • Chevrolet Dealership at the Corkscrew Commerce Center
  • Estero Ridge
• Projects Reviewed for Zoning by the Estero Community Planning Panel
  • Pelican Sound Boat Storage
  • Santorini Mixed Use Development
  • Estero 4.2 CPD
  • West Bay Club

July Opportunities for Citizen Participation
In Protecting Estero's Quality of Life

Traffic and Roadwork during the Next Two “Seasons”

Traffic in Estero and south Lee County during the recently completed “season” seemed to be much more congested than in prior years. As a result more and more Estero residents are asking: How are we going to be able to get around after all the approved commercial developments are built?

The short answer is: During the next two “seasons” it will be very difficult. After that traffic congestion in Estero should be reduced except for a couple of bottlenecks that need to be broken. In five years traffic in south Lee County will be greatly improved.

North-south Roadway Capacity

For many years south Lee County has been served by only two major north-south corridors with a total of 8 lanes, US 41 and I-75. The County and State have been working to expand this capacity for about 20 years by widening US 41 to 6 lanes and developing a third four lane, north-south corridor connecting of Livingston Road in Collier County to Imperial in Bonita Springs and Three Oaks in Estero and to the north. The problem with both of these solutions is that several segments of each road are currently incomplete, thus greatly reducing their effectiveness.

US 41

Now that the Old 41 to Corkscrew Road segment of US 41 has been widened to 6 lanes, three segments between Naples and Ft. Myers are still only four lanes wide. Two of the three are the Bonita Springs segments now under construction. The segment between Old 41 in Collier County and Bonita Beach Road is expected to be completed in about two months and the Bonita Beach Road to north Old 41 segment is forecast to be open to the public in about one year (April 2006).

The final segment, “The Primary US 41 Bottleneck”, extends from Corkscrew Road to San Carlos Boulevard . The design, permitting and right-of-way acquisition of this project is now underway and expected to be completed in about one year (June 2006). Unfortunately the funding for this segment is not scheduled to become available until July 2009, four years from now. Since the State allows two years for construction of road widening projects like this, US 41 would not be widened in this area until 2011, six years from now.

The regional office of the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is committed to applying in August for a State Infrastructure Bank (SIB) loan of nearly $20 million to pay the construction costs of this project. Approval or denial is expected in November. The Florida legislature recently increased funding for the SIB loan program by $100 million. Should the SIB loan be denied, Wal-Mart’s offer to pay up to $1 million of interest on another type of loan may be part of an alternative funding solution. If this project is funded by the middle of next year, the earliest that the segment can be opened to the public is three years from now (mid 2008). Thus this Bottleneck will only get worse for at least three more seasons.

Livingston-Imperial-Three Oaks Parkway

At present four segments of this 4 or 6 lane roadway have not been constructed or widened, three of them in the Bonita/Estero area. By the end of this year all three Bonita/Estero segments are scheduled to complete the design, permitting, right-of-way, bidding and construction contractor selected process. If successful construction of all three segments should begin no later than next January and each project should be open for traffic in two years (in mid 2007). Lee County DOT has placed a very high priority on completing these segments by mid-2007 so that this corridor is available for use before the six-laning of I-75 gets underway in the summer/fall of 2007.

The three Bonita/Estero segments are:

• Construction of Imperial from Bonita Beach Road to East Terry Street (4 lanes)
• Construction of Three Oaks Parkway from East Terry Street to Coconut Road (4 lanes)
• Widening of Three Oaks Parkway from Corkscrew Road to Alico Road to four lanes.

Recently the City of Bonita Springs and Lee County have approved an additional $17.4 million to pay the increased cost of the two Bonita Springs segments.

The fourth and final segment is located at the far north end of the corridor between Alico Road and Daniels Parkway . It will not be completed for several years but because it is at the end of the corridor it does not create a bottleneck like the other three segments.

When this corridor is completed it will be able to carry as much traffic as US 41 has carried over the years.

Sandy Lane

At present Sandy Lane exists as a short two lane road connecting Corkscrew Road to Broadway. Now under construction is a four lane extension from Corkscrew Road south to Pelican Colony Boulevard, the northern entrance to Pelican Landing. This road segment is being constructed by the developers of Coconut Point and North Point in order to supplement the capacity of US 41 in the vicinity of these regional retail attractions. This 3 mile segment is scheduled for completion about a year from now (mid 2006).

Ultimately Sandy Lane will be extended from Pelican Colony Boulevard directly to Old 41 east of where it connects with US 41 in front of Pelican Landing. When Old 41 is widened to four lanes (now in the design, permitting and right-of-way phase) and Sandy Lane is extended the combination will provide south Lee travelers with another 4 lane north-south corridor between Terry Street and Corkscrew Road .

Traffic congestion on US 41 between Coconut Road and Old 41, “The Secondary US 41 Bottleneck”, will be most severe during the 2006 “season” after Coconut Point opens in the fall of 2006 and before Three Oaks Parkway is completed in the summer of 2007 and before Sandy Lane is extended from Pelican Colony Boulevard to Old 41. This Bottleneck will continue until Sandy Lane is extended to Old 41, a project that has not been funded, designed, permitted nor has its right-of-way been obtained.

East-west Roadway Capacity

Traffic in the vicinity of I-75 and Corkscrew Road increased greatly this “season” due to growth at FGCU, the Miromar Discount Mall, the residential developments east of I-75 and the opening of Skyline Drive . Later this year congestion in this area will be further increased due to the opening of the Midfield Terminal, reconstruction of the I-75/Alico Road intersection and the opening of the Gulf Coast Mall, the Miromar Design Center and the Embassy Suites Hotel. The following “season” (2007) Coconut Point, Lowe’s and several other major retail developments between Three Oaks Parkway and I-75 will be open for business.

FDOT is presently constructing some I-75/Corkscrew intersection improvements that will improve turning movements onto and off the interstate but will not improve Corkscrew Road’s ability to handle all the vehicles accessing the area’s many attractions. Two years from now the area will get some relief when the Estero Parkway flyover between Three Oaks Parkway and Ben Hill Griffin opens for traffic.

All this development will soon demand that Corkscrew be six-laned between Three Oaks and Ben Hill Griffin. In order to six-lane all of this segment the overpass at I-75 will need to be totally reconstructed. FDOT has started to design an overpass that will accommodate a six-laned Corkscrew Road . While this is being planned and implemented the segment of Corkscrew Road around the intersection should be six laned by the County and State. County staff indicates that the first step in this process is to gain MPO approval for inclusion of this project in the long range transportation (2030) plan. We will be seeking MPO approval during its long range plan update this fall.

Roadway Funding
Issues and Actions

On June 6 th County DOT staff presented their updated Capital Improvement Program for Roads to the BOCC. The presentation contained two major changes that will benefit the residents of Estero and south Lee County . They are the recommendation that the County pay an additional $2.8 million for construction of Three Oaks Parkway and Imperial Street between Bonita Beach Road and Coconut Road . These funds would supplement the $14.6 million already committed by the County and the City of Bonita Springs so that construction of this vital roadway may commence early next year. The BOCC raised no objection to this proposal, thus it is likely to be approved by the BOCC after it holds the necessary Public Hearings in September.

The second change would accelerate the funding of the Estero Parkway flyover between Three Oaks Parkway to Ben Hill Griffin from the 2006-07 fiscal year to the county fiscal year that begins on October 1 st this year. Once again the BOCC raised no objection and BOCC approval can be expected in September.

Finally, County DOT staff recommended that about $30 million of surplus property tax revenue be allocated to a roadway revolving loan fund when the final budget is approved in September. This is the first time that the County has systematically allocated “General Funds” to be used to pay for road improvements. The plan would be for these funds to be used to accelerate one or more road projects or ROW acquisitions in order to complete them earlier, and presumably at lower cost. The funds, with interest, would be repaid from the funds that have been budgeted for the advanced projects or acquisitions in the following year. The repayment funds could then be loaned again for the acceleration of other following year projects or acquisitions.

County Road 951 Presentations

On June 10 th the CR 951 Council presented their plans for the extension of CR 951 from Immokalee Road to Alico Road to the Estero Council of Community Leaders (ECCL) Transportation Committee. The Council recommended two alternatives that followed routes east of the Lee DOT recommended route between Bonita Beach Road and Corkscrew Road . Subsequent to this meeting the ECCL approved a resolution supporting expansion of the CR 951 study area north to State Route 82 prior to making a decision regarding an alignment within the existing study area.

On June 24 th Lee County DOT staff made a similar presentation to the ECCL Transportation Committee. The County presentation contained the following new information:

• Maps that showed the boundaries of all the publicly owned lands in the study area and what governmental bodies own those lands, and

• Two possible routes that could be used to extend CR951 to SR 82 north from the current planning area through the extensive public lands that have been acquired for preservation, wetland replacement, water recharge and well fields, and

• Indicated that their traffic modeling indicates that the recommended route would reduce traffic problems on east-west roads like Corkscrew Road rather than increasing these problems, and

• Their research and communications with all the public landholders in the area indicate that no eastern route would be permitted by the Water District and the U.S. Corp of Engineers and thus would not be buildable.

Both groups have been invited to attend the July meeting of the ECCL when the Committee will make its recommendation and the full ECCL will consider what position, it any, it will take regarding CR 951.

2005 – 2007 Roadway Monitor

The following seven roadway projects are scheduled for construction in and around Estero during the next 2 and one-half years. They must stay on schedule if south Lee County is to avoid even more traffic gridlock over the next several years as Estero’s residential growth rate increases and our commercial growth takes off.

With the help of FDOT and Lee DOT staff this and subsequent EDR reports will identify the key schedule deadlines for each project so that any delays are observed and corrected as soon as possible.

State Projects

US 41

from Old 41 in Collier County to Bonita Beach Road

Construction Underway…Completion Date…August 2005

US 41

from Bonita Beach Road to Old 41 by Pelican Landing

Construction Underway…Completion Date…April 2006

US 41

from Corkscrew Road to San Carlos Boulevard
 

County Projects

Imperial Street (Three Oaks Parkway )

from Bonita Beach Road to E. Terry Street

Monthly Progress : Many more properties acquired, now over 60% of all Right of way (ROW) properties have been acquired.

Important Challenges: Coordinate the engineering firm that is supporting both the County on this project and the City of Bonita Springs on the East Terry widening project regarding the intersection designs and ROW acquisition at the Dean Street and East Terry Street intersections. Satisfy the South Florida Water Management District’s permit requirements regarding the overpass over the Imperial River .

Three Oaks Parkway

from E. Terry Street to Coconut Road

Monthly Progress : Progress has been made regarding the contract necessary to acquire the Centex property, but the contract has not yet been finalized. This is the largest and most complicated ROW acquisition needed for this project.

Important Challenges: Obtain BOCC approval of the mitigation bank to be used for this project. Staff has recommended the Corkscrew Mitigation Bank but two other mitigation banks are competing for the business. The BOCC needs to decide this issue at its August 2 nd meeting. Water Management District and Corps of Engineers permits cannot be obtained until this issue is resolved. Thus delay in this decision will delay the bidding process and the project.

Three Oaks Parkway

from Corkscrew Road to Alico Road

Monthly Progress: Progress is being made in mitigation negotiations with the Water District and the Corp of Engineers.

Important Challenges: Acquisition of three major parcels from two owners that are necessary for detention ponds required by this project and the Estero Parkway Flyover.

Sandy Lane

from Corkscrew Road to Pelican Colony Boulevard

Monthly Progress: Site preparation and clearing was begun on the Corkscrew to Williams Road segment during June. Storm sewer installation continued on the Coconut to Williams Road segment during June.

Estero Parkway

from Three Oaks Parkway to Ben Hill Griffin

Monthly Progress : Right of way acquisition now 85% complete.

Important Challenges: Mitigation negotiations with the Water District and the Corps of Engineers must be completed before the project can be permitted. All available road contactors have more work than they can handle so competition for new projects is limited. In addition the County will soon have 5 or 6 projects ready to bid. Not all of them can be bid at the same time. Thus some will be delayed, and the costs are likely to be higher, because the supply side of the market is so limited.

Roadway Landscaping Update

Estero Parkway

from US 41 to Three Oaks Parkway

Several years ago the landowners along this road segment agreed to pay for the maintenance of the median landscaping during the first year after it was installed. As a result the project became the highest ranking arterial roadway in need of landscaping as determined by the County’s Roadway Landscape Advisory Committee and the BOCC. Thus median landscape funding for the road was made available and the design commenced.

About the time that the landscaping project was to be bid Toll Brothers sought to rezone the property where The Reserve of Estero is now being constructed. The rezoning eliminated the commercial use included in the prior zoning of that property. Consequently, three median cuts along that section of Estero Parkway could be eliminated. As a result Toll Brothers and Leavitt Homes, the developers of The Cascades, located immediately across the road from The Reserve of Estero, agreed to pay the cost of closing those median cuts so that additional trees and plants could be installed in the median.

Those median cuts were eliminated earlier this year. In the meantime the landscape plan was amended to include landscaping for the new median areas. On June 28 th the BOCC approved a contract for $475,000 with Big Tree, Inc. to install the landscaping and irrigation system in the Estero Parkway median and to pay them for the maintenance during the first year after the plants and trees are installed. Big Tree is expected to begin installation of this landscaping within the next two months.

US 41

from Old 41 in Bonita Springs to Corkscrew Road

Several years ago when this 3.5 mile road widening project was accelerated by the Florida legislature $704,000 was set aside to landscaping the median. Using some of these funds Lee County hired a landscape architect in 2002 to design the median landscaping for this segment. That design was approved by the Roadway Landscape Advisory Committee the following year. About that time FDOT changed their rules about the size of trees that may be planted in the medians of State roads with a design speed of 50 mph and higher. This new restriction prevents the use of large trees in the median of this road segment, contrary to the County’s core roadway landscaping policy. The County appealed this rule using zoning information associated with all the commercial developments planned for this road segment. The State denied the appeal.

More recently the County authorized additional funds for US 41 landscaping and some of it was allocated to this road segment. Consequently on June 28 th the BOCC approved a supplemental contract to the landscape designer of this project so that he can update the design to add the County financed plants. The contract provides $101,600 for development of a base plan, site investigation, conceptual design, design development, construction documents and bidding assistance. It is anticipated that the design will be presented to the Roadway Landscape Advisory Committee in December and the design will be completed in March 2006, with installation to follow after that.

Commercial Project
Status Updates

Former Coconut Road / US 41 Wal-Mart Site

JED Development has purchased the 46 acre site where Wal-Mart tried unsuccessfully to locate a superstore during the last couple of years. JED has a reputation for developing high end, Mediterranean style commercial complexes. Locally they developed the Sanibel Steakhouse and the office building that surrounds it and have been developing Corkscrew Palms for about two years. Corkscrew Palms is located on the south side of Corkscrew Road just east of the entrance to the Estero Community Park. It presently consists of three single story commercial buildings up close to Corkscrew with two multistory office buildings nearing completion behind them. JED also is developing a very attractive commercial park on the northwest corner of Airport Pulling and Vanderbilt Road in North Naples .

Regarding this property JED has informed us:

• They plan to develop the site using the existing zoning that includes several outlots along US 41 and the eastern part of Coconut, a 13 acre interior commercial parcel and a large rear parcel that they currently plan to develop as residential,
• They were approached by a big box developer but told them that they had made a commitment to the community that they would not put a Big Box tenant on the site,
• All the outlots will have to comply with master development design guidelines so that there will be consistency in architecture and landscaping.

At present JED is completing their site engineering, surveying and environmental studies and is seeking marketing advice and assistance. Once these steps are completed they will begin planning the site. It is expected that JED will then begin to work with the ECPP to obtain community input on the project.

June Design Reviews by the Estero Design Review Committee

Lowe’s at Estero Town Commons

On May 11 Lowe’s and Kite Development presented their plans to the EDRC for a 169,000 square foot Lowe’s store including a 33,000 square foot garden center all to be located in the southeast rear section of the property. The developers presented a Lowe’s store with a Mediterranean design similar to the design of the Wal-Mart store to be constructed on the northeast corner of Estero Parkway and US 41. The developers also designed the project so that it would satisfy the Corkscrew Road Overlay Design Standards and the Estero Town Commons appearance standards that are required by the zoning of all projects on this site. The EDRC appreciated what Lowe’s and Kite presented but made sixteen recommendations for improvement, each of which was summarized in last month’s report.

On June 8 th Lowe’s, Kite and their professional design team returned to the EDRC with their revised plans. Among the improvements are:

• Sidewalks added to the north and west side of the internal roadway
• Add a north-south sidewalk in the parking lot
• Staggered the landscaped islands in the parking lots
• Added some pedestrian access ways to the store
• Substituted mahoganies for magnolias in many places
• Added spartina for use in the detention areas
• Added trees and other plantings in order to shield the truck well area
• Incorporated larger royal palms at the store entrances
• Eliminated the boxy look of the building on the east side by adding a fully developed façade
• Intensified the colors used on all sections of the building
• Extensively increased the color variation on the front of the building along with tile roofing and increased articulation
• Greatly improved the architectural enclosure around the garden area
• Screened the dumpster with a masonry wall
• Added sabal palms and bougainvillea on the side of the garden center

The EDRC praised Kite and Lowe’s for their cooperation and outstanding design.

Chevrolet Dealership

at the Corkscrew Commerce Center

On June 8th the developer of this 39,000 square foot new car sale and service dealership and his design staff presented their plans to the EDRC. The sales center is oriented toward the northeast exposing one side of the building to view from Corkscrew Road. The maintenance building has only one entrance, thus reducing the number of open garage doors. The EDRC did not find the proposed design to conform to the Corkscrew Main Street Overlay provisions of the Lee Land Development Code. It building was not of Mediterranean design; the landscaping provisions were not satisfied; the developers proposed a tin roof rather than the required tile roof; the light fixtures were not Mediterranean; the perimeter buffering and landscaping was not high enough to shield the bumpers and grills of the vehicles; some colors did not satisfy code; plans did not show a monument sign and the on-building signs were not in conformance with the code.

In addition, the height and number of light stands in the parking lots was discussed at length. The developer agreed to research using less, but higher standards. Other comments and suggestions include:

• Bring all the project plans when they return including full landscape plans and signage
• Cluster the perimeter trees instead of planting them in long rows
• Improve the shape of the lake, les boxy more sinuous
• Use larger plants
• Use more urban style for plantings around the showroom and more buffering landscaping along the sides of the service building
• Add some outdoor furniture
• Add some seat walls to the fountains
• Improve the pedestrian access around the showrooms
• Make the rooflines more variable and less repetitious and mix materials and colors here
• Improve the appearance of the sides of the buildings
• Consider seating along the sides of the pond and lining the pond
• Add littorals around the lake

The applicant agreed to make these changes and to return with them at the August meeting of the EDRC.

The developer had previously presented the project to the ECCL in order to rezone the property and obtain a comprehensive plan amendment that would permit them to display automobiles on more than one acre of land. If approved by the BOCC the plan amendment will apply only to this parcel of property. The dealership will use over 20 acres in the Corkscrew Commerce Center thus reducing the number of outlots from eight to two. A Hampton Inn will also be located in the Commerce Center . The zoning application also eliminates the following uses from the two outlot parcels: fast food restaurants, service stations and convenience food and beverage stores. A three foot berm will be installed around the entire perimeter of the development.

Estero Ridge

On June 8 th Brian Howell of Phoenix Associates presented plans for a six acre commercial development to be located on the southeast corner of Estero Parkway and US 41. The developer has commitments from the following businesses for inclusion in the project: three small restaurants, an insurance company and one or more hair salons. The site has two access points, one from US 41 and the other from Estero Parkway . A covered arcade lines the entrance side of the building.

This developer was not familiar with the Estero code requirements applicable to this site. Consequently the plans that were presented did not satisfy many of the design standards that have been established for all commercial projects in Estero. The EDRC noted some of these deficiencies as follows:

• Landscaping reflects soldiering of trees rather than clustering them for improved appearance and better commercial view lines
• Applicant use of metal roof and shutters are inconsistent with the Mediterranean style and tile roofs sought by the community
• Signage for the project should be one or more monument signs
• Storefront signage should use individual, channel-lit letters
• The EDRC must see the signage before the sign application is filed with the County…wants to review its color, font type and letter size
• Additional landscaping needed in the parking lots
• Make greater use of tall palms, large canopy trees, mid-story and low shrubs
• Consider making end cap parking islands 20 feet wide
• Enhance the edge buffer landscaping
• Consider laying out the building as an L shaped structure up close to both roads with the parking in rear, like most of the other commercial projects in the area.

The EDRC noted that this intersection will be a major entrance to the Estero community and to the University, an important, high profile corner. They also discussed pedestrian access from the adjacent roadways and providing linkage to them. More research needs to be done by the developer on this issue. The developer agreed that there would be no signage on the tower. Finally, the developer agreed to return to the EDRC when his plans are updated.

Projects Reviewed for Zoning by the Estero Community Planning Panel

Pelican Sound Boat Storage

On June 13th Michael Delate of Q. Grady Minor and Associates presented a proposal for the Pelican Sound residential community for a proposed expansion of the boat storage area within the FPL easement on the south end of Pelican Sound along Williams Road . The project has the following characteristics:

• The existing yard is too small to accommodate the needs of the Pelican Sound residents
• Pelican Sound RPD must be amended to allow boat storage for residents only within the FPL easement from the existing yard area to about 100 feet from the West Bay Club property line
• Access to the yard would be internal to Pelican Sound
• Landscaping of similar nature to the existing yard would be extended along Williams Road to the west end of the property
• Additionally, landscaping would be provided along the west side of Pelican Sound to block the line of sight from the West Bay Club.

The ECPP expressed concern about the sufficiency of the landscaping along the existing boat yard. A request was made to extend the attractive landscaping found at the entrance to the West Bay Club along the entire length of the proposed expansion. The Panel recommended that the applicant meet with the residents of the West Bay Club to satisfy their concerns about the appearance of the area from Williams Road and the applicant agreed to do so. The Estero Fire & Rescue representative wanted the access road to be 11 foot in width and to have sufficient strength for the District’s fire trucks.

Santorini Mixed Use Development

On June 13 th Sean Weeks of SRW Engineering presented this 30 acre project to the ECPP. Santorini is located on west side of US 41 at Estero Parkway intersection. The developer is seeking to zone the property for 4½ acres of commercial and 25 acres of multi-family residential. The developer is seeking authority to build 220 dwelling units on those 25 acres for a density of 8.8 units per acre. The developer’s traffic analysis indicates that the increased density would add only 16 vehicles per peak hour over and above the existing zoning. The residential property would also include a club house, tennis courts and walking trails.

The plan includes a buffer adjacent to Breckenridge, the Marbella site to the south and to the existing residential property south of the project along US 41. At the request of the Panel the developer agreed to meet with the existing residential neighbors. The commercial buildings will be constructed close to US 41 with parking in the rear. In addition to the principal entrance to the project on US 41 there will also be emergency access through the Marbella Estates project, a residential project with an entrance on Broadway. The developers recognize they may not be able to begin construction of the project until the widening of US 41 is underway. They also indicated that they are willing to help with its financing, if necessary.

Estero 4.2 CPD

On June 13 th Bob Thinnes of Q. Grady Minor & Associates presented this 4.2 acre commercial project to the ECPP. The development is located on the west side of US 41 in front of the Breckenridge community just north of Estero Parkway. Access to the property will be through the existing frontage road in front of the Breckenridge commerce center. The project would also provide an access connection to the vacant unzoned property to the south. Two alternative configurations of the two proposed commercial buildings were presented to the Panel. Each alternative would contain a 6,000 square foot restaurant with 1,000 square foot of outdoor dining and a 21,100 square foot retail building. The Panel and the community expressed their preference for the plan with the larger building up close to US 41 and the parking in the rear. In both cases the corner next to Breckenridge contains the required detention pond. The developer agreed to return to the Panel after discussing the revised site plan with the County.

West Bay Club

Located at the western end of Williams Road. It is now being developed by the West Bay Club Development Corporation and Indian Hill Partners, Inc.

The West Bay Club site includes 868 acres, 509 of which are Estero Bay preserves that will remain untouched and undeveloped. The development will have nine distinct neighborhoods featuring a variety of estate homes, grand villa homes, single-family homes, carriage homes, and residential high rises. In late March, the developers announced the release of phase II for Jasmine Bay, a high rise community consisting of two 20-story high rises containing over 100 residences in each tower. Jasmine Bay ’s first phase contains the north tower, which sold out in 10 days. The developers began the foundation work for the north tower in May. Completion of both Jasmine Bay towers is expected by the fall of 2007.

The Pete and P.B. Dye designed 18-hole golf course, which has been designated as an Audubon International Signature Sanctuary Course, has recently been joined by a 30,000 square foot Golf House. The West Bay Club also has a private Beach House located on Little Hickory Island containing a restaurant and bar; a Bay House containing a grill and bar, fitness center, and reading room; a River Park with a boat launch, a fishing pier, basketball court, children’s playground, eight tennis courts, olympic-sized swimming pool, children’s pool, poolside cabana, and covered spa.