Estero Development
Report
Volume 2, Number 10
Issued February 2002
Edited by ECCO--the Estero Concerned
Citizens Organization
For further information, to provide
information or to add names to our mailing list, Email Don Eslick at
doneslick@worldnet.att.net or call him at 949-4050
Estero Development Activities during February 2002
March Opportunities for Citizen
Participation In Protecting Estero's Quality of Life
|
Date |
Time |
Event |
Location |
|
Tuesday, March 5 |
10:00 a.m. |
Hearing Officer Hearing on the
Stoneybrook Commercial Project |
Community Development Building, 2nd
Floor, 1500 Monroe Street, Ft Myers |
|
Tuesday, March 5 |
6 p.m. |
Lee County Roadway Landscape Advisory
Committee Hearing on Fund Advance for U. S. 41 |
Community Development Building, 3rd
Floor, 1500 Monroe Street, Ft Myers |
|
Thursday, March 7 |
6:30 p.m. |
Estero Community Park Public Hearing #2 |
South County Regional Library |
|
Thursday, March 7 |
7 p.m. |
Estero Bay Buddies Annual Meeting and
Recognition Ceremony |
Florida Gulf Coast
University--University Plaza |
|
Monday, March 11 |
2 p.m. |
Estero Civic Association |
Mariner's Cove |
|
Tuesday, March 19 |
2 p.m. |
Estero Fire Rescue Three Oaks Parkway
Fire Station Dedication and Three Oaks Parkway Opening |
The Three Oaks Fire Station |
|
Tuesday, March 19 |
9:30 a.m. |
Hearing Officer Hearing Continues on
the Coconut Point (Simon) Project |
Board Chambers, 2nd Floor,
2115 2nd Street, Ft. Myers |
|
Thursday, March 21 |
5:30 to 7:30 p.m. |
Estero Chamber of Commerce Business
After Hours--speaker Commissioner Bob Janes |
West Bay Club |
(located between Williams Road and Corkscrew Road just east of
the railroad tracks)
About 150 Esteroans attended the first public meeting that was
held on Wednesday, January 9, 2002 on the design of the remaining 55
acres of this 65 acre park. County Parks and Recreation Department
staff and their consultants will present their conceptual plan for
the Estero Community Park (based upon the input received at the
January meeting) at a Public Hearing to be held on Thursday, March
7th at the South County Regional Library. Public comment on the plan
will follow the presentation-- come and make sure that the County is
including your park needs in their planning.
The Estero Community Planning Panel and its consultant, Vanasse
and Daylor, are persistently pursuing the development of an
amendment to the County's Land Development Code that would establish
an overlay district for Corkscrew Road. An overlay district is a
development district that must satisfy criteria that are more
stringent than those which generally apply elsewhere in the county.
Additional LDC changes are also being requested.
February was a busy month for the Estero Community Planning Panel
(ECPP) as the following summary indicates:
• Our Chairman and our consultant met with Lee County
Planning staff to review an early draft of the Corkscrew "Main
Street" Overlay proposal to obtain their initial reaction and
suggestions; they suggested that the establishment of a Civic
Design Committee to review all development order applications in
the corridor might delay the approval of the suggested changes.
The proposed Civic Design Committee is a committee of local
people and design professionals that would review all proposed
projects to ensure that they meet the new higher design
standards required within the overlay district. This approach
would encourage greater creativity in the design of projects
while ensuring that they are compatible with the design of
adjacent properties.
• The Panel met on February 4th and decided to seek county
approval for the Corkscrew "Main Street" Overlay District and a
"Civic Design Committee". The Panel also reviewed the revised
plans for the Corkscrew Palms development --a mixed use
development that would satisfy the requirements of the Overlay
District--located on the south side of Corkscrew Road midway
between Three Oaks Parkway and 41.
• On February 9th about 70 Estero residents met to review the
planning concepts advanced at the Workshop. The Panel's
consultants presented these results and showed how they
influenced the Land Development Code changes that would soon be
forwarded to the County for adoption. After the meeting, the
ECPP met again to discuss the suggestions of the citizens who
attended the Workshop and schedule another meeting to refine the
recommendations before their submission to the County.
• On February 18th the ECPP met for the final review of the
proposed Corkscrew Main Street Overlay District recommendations
prior to their submission to the County. Many changes were made
to the draft prepared by the consultants reflecting the public's
suggestions received over the last 18 months.
• On February 20th the draft Corkscrew "Main Street" Overlay
District proposal was forwarded to the Lee County Department of
Planning for both its review and that of the five required
hearings that must take place before the recommendations are
approved and become law.
• On February 25th the ECPP met to discuss the status of
Estero's Community planning activities and to plan the next
steps in the approval process. In sum the status is: (1) Lee
County planning staff should soon begin implementing the
Estero
Community Plan; (2) the first cycle of Land Development Code
changes are now beginning the approval process that will require
much support from the community; and (3) the ECPP will soon
begin to develop additional Land Development Code changes (Cycle
2) for submission to County Planning staff.
and Mixed Use Development (on the east side of US 41 from
Williams Road to Coconut Road )
The approval process for this major project paused for a breather
on January 31st. The developer requested a continuance and one was
granted until March 19, 2002. During this period the developer, the
County and the City of Bonita Springs have been meeting to try to
resolve several roadway development and financing issues. The County
wants assurances that the roads will be available for use before the
Coconut Point Mall opens for business; Simon wants development order
conditions that will allow them to market the property to
prospective tenants for occupancy on a date certain; and Bonita
Springs wants to share in any road impact fees or "proportionate
share" charges to help finance the required roads in the City that
are needed to service the project. ECCO will participate in these
meetings as representatives of the Estero community. The pace of
negotiations can be expected to increase as the March Public Hearing
date approaches.
Once this hearing is completed, the Hearing Officer will submit
his report. The matter will then be scheduled for consideration by
the Board of County Commissioners. Meanwhile, the State Department
of Community Affairs is reviewing the County's Comprehensive Plan
amendment also required for the development's approval. This
decision is expected some time in early March 2002, whereupon the
County has 60 days to resolve any differences and adopt or reject
the amendment. Thus, final approval of the development could be
completed by May of this year.
Residential units permitted in Estero during January continued at
the slower pace that was triggered by the September 11th
catastrophe. During January, 83 new housing units were permitted in
Estero with a building value of $15,139,733. While this is higher
than January 2000, it is down from 146 units and a building value of
$24,915,996 last year.
Since September 11th (from September 2001 through January 2002),
567 housing units have been permitted in Estero, as compared to 910
housing units during the same period last year. This represents a
decline of 38% from the prior year, but because housing values
continue to increase in Estero, the decline in building value during
this period is only about 30%.
Nonetheless, the total value of housing units permitted in Estero
was 42% higher than the total for Bonita Springs by 42% during
January. Because the value of Bonita's permitted commercial
development was higher than Estero's, the total value of all
development permitted in Estero during January exceeded Bonita's
total by 19%.
During January Estero produced about 19% of the building value of
all residential units permitted throughout unincorporated Lee County
and 16% when commercial building permits are included. The high end
of the housing market is being affected by the events of September
11th and the stagnant stock market more than the lower end of the
market.
(On south side of Koreshan Boulevard
between 41 and Three Oaks)
On February 4th the Board of County
Commissioners voted to approve zoning of
Indigo Isles based upon the
letter of agreement between the developer, Levitt Homes, and
ECCO
supporting 4.0 residential units per acres subject to the following
commitments made by the developer to ECCO:
• The development will provide a 40 foot wide berm along
Koreshan Boulevard with extensive plantings at least equal to
the County's highest landscaping standard (Type F) on a berm
with a wall behind the plantings.
• The developer will join a public-private partnership that,
if approved by a majority of the property owners, will work with
Lee County to install and maintain median landscaping along
Koreshan Boulevard between 41 and Three Oaks Boulevard. In
addition the developer will incorporate a commitment for
maintenance of the landscaping in the project's homeowner
documents.
• The developer will continue a compatible landscaping plan
along that segment of Sandy Lane that is to be constructed
through the project. This buffer will include a 6 foot wall with
plantings on the road side of the wall.
• Subject to final approval by Gulf Environmental Services
the developer will provide a sewer easement through the
property, a stub-out from the project's sewer system to Broadway
Avenue and an upsized force main in order to increase the
sanitary sewer's capacity so that it can serve the communities
to the south of the project that are now using septic systems.
ECCO has begun preliminary discussions with Levitt Homes
regarding the formation of a coalition of property owners in support
of median landscaping along Koreshan Boulevard.
(on east side of 41 midway between
Corkscrew Road and Broadway)
On February 4th the Board of County
Commissioners approved Dr. Cope's application for rezoning of his
1.4 acre parcel. The final zoning added the animal clinic and kennel
(without outdoor runs) to the list of uses already authorized by the
previous C1-A zoning on the property. In addition two proposed uses
were amended to insure that no outdoor display would be allowed.
Mrs. Cope provided ECCO with pictures of Dr. Cope's attractive
facility in Ohio. Now that the County has approved the Cope's zoning
request Dr. Cope is hiring an architect to design the facilities
they plan to construct. Debora Gress, Dr. Cope's project engineer,
estimates that the design will be available in about two months. At
that time she indicated that they would meet with
ECCO to review
their development plans and building design. It is expected that by
the time the Cope's seek a development order for the project that
the Estero Community Plan will be in effect along with some of our
Land Development Code changes that are now being developed.
ECCO appreciates Dr. Cope's willingness to involve us in the
development process and expect that if the project is anything like
the quality of his Ohio facility, his Estero animal clinic etc. will
satisfying our new, higher standards.
According to the Lee County Department of Transportation "core
landscaping" of Corkscrew Road from Sandy Lane east to
Corkscrew
Woodlands was the subject of a pre-bid meeting on February 19th. The
department's plans call for the bids to be opened on March 6th.
Thereafter the County has 90 days to award the contract and 30
additional days to negotiate the contract with the successful
bidder. Thus installation of median landscaping on Corkscrew should
begin no later than July 6th. This work is estimated to be completed
within 90 days, or by October 6th at the latest.
The project will consist of clusters of canopy trees along the
center of the median. Hopefully this installation will be augmented
in years to come with the cooperation of property owners and
developers along the road. As property owners along this segment
seek zoning approval, ECCO will seek commitments from them for
assistance in enhancing the landscaping and financing its future
operations and maintenance.
Funding for roadway landscaping of the I-75 and Corkscrew Road
intersection has been approved by the Metropolitan Planning
Organization (MPO). Through this grant this intersection and the one
at Daniels Parkway and I-75 have been recognized as important
gateways to their respective communities. In addition to the state
money that has been allocated to these two projects, the County is
committed to providing the irrigation system that will support the
landscaping and will be responsible for its ongoing maintenance.
Lee County DOT will soon be seeking a consultant to design the
"core" landscaping for the new segment of Three Oaks from Williams
Road to Corkscrew Road. Once the consultant has been hired the
design will require about 6 months followed by about three months
for the bidding process and then construction. Thus it would appear
at present that the segment should have its canopy trees installed
in early 2003.
The University Overlay Project extends from Alico Road along Ben
Hill Griffin Boulevard south to Corkscrew Road where it turns west
to I-75. Bids for this large project will be opened by the County in
mid-March. It usually takes the County a month or more for the
County to negotiate a contract with the selected bidder. Thereafter
construction of the project may begin.
The Bonita Bay Group is now constructing a two-lane extension of
Williams from River Ranch Road on the west to Three Oaks Parkway on
the east. Construction is expected to be complete later this spring.
The segment of U.S. 41 from the north end of Old 41 to Corkscrew
Road is scheduled for letting in May of this year, with construction
to commence about three months later--about September. This is a
"resurfacing and widening" project--not a reconstruction and
widening project--and most of the utilities are already present near
the outer edges of the right-of-way. As a result the construction
period is estimated to be only 18 months. Thus this roadway segment
should be completed in the spring of 2004.
The current U. S. 41 project extending from Alico Road to just
north of The Vines is also a less disruptive "resurfacing and
widening" project unlike the just completed reconstruction and
widening project in North Naples.
Construction of the segment immediately to the south in Bonita
Springs may be postponed unless the Florida legislature appropriates
$8 million previously recommended by the State's Transportation
Outreach Program (TOP) board but deleted from this year's budget by
Governor Bush. We would encourage everyone to contact Rep. Carol
Green and Sen. Burt Saunders urging them to continue to fight for
this funding. Their email addresses are:
Rep. Carol Green green.carole@leg.state.fl.us
Sen. Burt Saunders saunders.burt@leg.state.fl.us
(located in front of Pinewood Elementary School on the south
side of Corkscrew Road about 1.5 miles east of I-75)
The rezoning hearing originally scheduled for January 21st with a
Lee County Hearing Examiner has been postponed until Tuesday, March
5th. Stoneybrook's request would decrease the number of homes
authorized for the project by 265 units and increase the amount of
commercial space to 36,200 square feet and the amount of office
space to 40,000 square feet. The total commercial project area is 21
acres of which 7.6 acres is a preserve of cypress trees; 1.2 acres
will be an
Estero Fire Rescue fire station; and the remaining 12.3
acres are projected for commercial and office purposes.
ECCO
representatives will offer support for the rezoning at the Hearing
but will ask for conditions to be placed on gasoline stations and
convenience store uses with respect to landscaping, lighting,
signage, and the prohibition of alcohol sales and loitering, as a
means of protecting the school children at the adjacent Pinewoods
elementary school.
Ground has just been broken on this 160 unit condominium
community located near the entrance to the
Breckenridge community.
The project will consist of four 40 unit mid-rise buildings.
Residents of The Preserve will have access to Breckenridge's 18 hole
executive golf course, five swimming pools, eight tennis courts and
clubhouse. Earlier development phases at Breckenridge have resulted
in about 600 occupied dwelling units.
Located at what will soon be the northeast corner of River Ranch
Road and Williams Road, the
Lakes of Estero will become a 102 single
family home community with a clubhouse, swimming pool and tennis
courts over the next three years. At present the land is being
shaped and the infrastructure is being installed. Three models will
soon be built and sales of the homes--priced in the $200,000 to
$300,000 range will be in full swing.
Just north of the Lakes of Estero is
Colonial Oaks--a 99 single
family home community that is currently being marketed at
pre-construction prices starting at $200,000. Colonial Oaks is now
installing its water and sewer system, building its roads and a
large lake in the middle of the property. The first of four model
homes will open in June. Colonial Oaks will also have a clubhouse
and swimming pool for its residents. The project is expected to be
completed in about 2 1/2 years.
On February 21st the owners of the property on the southwest
corner of Corkscrew Road and River Ranch Road filed an application
for rezoning of this 3.83 acre parcel from agricultural to
Commercial Planned Development with a maximum of 54,000 square feet
of commercial space and a maximum height of 35 feet. Additional
information has been requested by the County in order for the
application to be considered "sufficient". At that time the
developer will be required to hold a public meeting in Estero to
discuss his plans and to answer the questions of the community
regarding those plans. This is a new procedure required by the
Estero Community Plan. We will advise you of the time and place of
this meeting once it has been set.
According to press reports on February 28th Charles Dauray, Chairman of the
College of Life Foundation, asked Lee County
officials to postpone the public hearing on the project until June
1, 2000. In addition Dauray would seek to sell 18 of the project's
51 acres to the County or State by applying for County Conservation
2020 funding. The 18 acres that Dauray seeks to sell contains
several historic Koreshan buildings. The public hearing, originally
scheduled for March 7, 2002 was postponed by the developer for 3
months.
Many elements of the Estero community, but especially the
Estero
Civic Association, had long sought public acquisition of this site
but met with limited success because most public funding sources for
environmental and historic properties require a "willing seller".
All this was changed by Mr. Dauray's recent announcement.
