Minutes of
Public Meeting # 70

December 12. 2005
Marsh Landing Clubhouse, Estero, Florida

Panel Members Present

Neal Noethlich, Chairman; Don Eslick, Estero Council of Community Leaders; Greg Toth , Estero Development Community; Jerry Van Gelder, Estero Fire Rescue; Jack Lienesch, Estero Civic Association. Treasurer: Fran Wagner, ECA. Recording Secretary: Jim Ramsburg, ECCL. Absent: Carl Barraco, Estero Chamber of Commerce; Dan DeLisi, Estero Development Community. Noethlich called the meeting to order at 6:04 PM.

Public Participation

Sixty-seven participants were present including 52 members of the general public. Ramsburg reported that public notices of the meeting were published in the Fort Myers News-Press, the Bonita Daily News and the Bonita Banner. Notices were posted on the Internet in the Estero Development Report and on the Web sites of the ECCL/ECPP/ECA/EDRC and Estero Fire Rescue. A paid advertising notice of the meeting was placed in the Bonita Banner of December 10. Meeting notices were posted in South County Regional Library, Colonial Bank and the Estero office of Realty World.

True Mixed Use Development

To mark the occasion of the Panel's 70th public meeting, a two-hour symposium was conducted prior to the regular business meeting. The topic discussed was "True Mixed Use Development", the combination of commercial businesses and/or offices within the same structure as residential quarters commonly located on upper stories.

Participants included Lee County Commissioner Ray Judah, Lee County Smart Growth Chairman Wayne Daltry, Lee County Planning Director Paul O'Connor, Estero Fire Rescue Fire Marshall Mike Cato, JED Development Vice President Andy D'Jamoos, Rapallo developer Jim Wallace, and Jerry Schmoyer, Executive Vice President of Miromar Development. General agreement followed Judah's comment that Mixed Use promises to relieve the problems of traffic congestion, inadequate mass transportation and urban sprawl. The basic question was how developers might extend the effort and expense required to propose such developments without running counter to Lee County restrictions regarding population density and land buffering. Toth recommended that all large developments within Estero, not just Developments of Regional Impact, be considered for greater density to allow for true mixed use on what undeveloped land remains in the community. ECPP members agreed with Toth's recommendation. Noethlich thanked all the participants for their attendance and comments.

ECPP Business Meeting

Noethlich called the meeting to order at 8:04 PM.

Treasurer's Report

Wagner reported a current balance of $7,277.91 in the Community Planning Panel account on deposit Colonial Bank in Estero. Toth: Motion to accept Lienesch: Second. Report accepted unanimously.

Secretary's Report

Noethlich distributed minutes of the November meeting. Toth: Motion to accept minutes. Eslick: Second. Report accepted unanimously.

Status of Pending Estero Amendments to Lee County Land Development Code

Noethlich reported that the amendments would be considered by a second meeting of the Lee County Board of County Commissioners on December 13, the projected date of adoption by the BofCC. Noethlich indicated that prospects looked good for adoption and requested that Panel membrs attend the meeting if schedules permit.

Funding of Current County Funding for Community Planning

Lienesch reported that he and Noethlich met on November 22nd with Jim Mudd of Lee County. The county recently increased Community Planning funding to $50,000, double the past limit. He said that Captiva, North Captiva, Boca Grande and Estero have all requested or plan to request funding. Mudd said that he plans to put all requests before the Board of County Commissioners in January. A one-page letter requesting funding is required. Noethlich said that a proposal would be prepared indicating needs and uses for the additional funding which may include professional assistance.

Approval of ECPP Standby Secretary

Toth: Motion to approve Estero resident Judy Beach as Panel Recording Secretary in any absence of Ramsburg or Bill Brown. Eslick: Second. Motion carried unanimously.

Website Development

Eslick reported progress being made in continuing development of existing Website shared by the Panel, the Estero Design Review Committee, the Estero Council of Community Leaders and the Estero Civic Association. He reported a balance of $250 will be due for Website maintenance for the remainder of 2005. Eslick: Motion to budget its proportionate share of maintenance costs for 2005 and a sum not to exceed $1,000 to cover maintenance and development costs for the first six months of 2006. Lienesch: Second. Motion carried unanimously.

Toth: Motion to adjourn. Lienesch: Second. Motion passed unanimously. Meeting adjourned at 8:20 PM.