Estero Community Planning Panel

Minutes of Public Meeting #94 - December 10, 2007
Estero Community Park, Estero, Florida

Panel Members Present:

Neal Noethlich, Chairman; Greg Toth , Estero Development Community, Jack Lienesch, Estero Civic Association; Lin Welch, Estero Chamber of Commerce; John Goodrich,.Estero Council of Community Leaders; Dan DeLisi, Estero Development Community. Recording Secretary: Jim Ramsburg, ECCL.  Absent: Treasurer: Beverly MacNellis, ECCL. 
 
Noethlich called the meeting to order at 6:02 PM.

Public Participation:

Twenty-nine participants were present including 22 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 8th.  Notices of the meeting were posted in the South Regional Library, Colonial Bank, Estero Community Park and Realty World of Estero.

Treasurer’s Report:

In Treasurer MacNellis’ absence due to surgery, Lienesch reported a November 30th  balance of $3,344.75 in the Community Planning Panel account on deposit at Colonial Bank in Estero. Lienesch: Motion to accept   Goodrich: Second.  Report accepted unanimously.

Secretary’s Report: 

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

Postponed Developer Presentations:

Noethlich reported that at their presenters’ requests presentations of proposals for Cypress Shadows RPD and Corkscrew Mini-Storage at Stoneybrook have been postponed until the January meeting.  Ray Blacksmith of Cameratta Properties was present at the meeting and offered to answer any questions in advance of the Cypress Shadows proposal. None were forthcoming. 

Developer Presentation - West Bay Club RPD to MPD:

Russell Schropp of Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt, P.A., presented a proposal of rezoning of the 866 acre site from Residential Planned Development to Mixed Planned Development.

The proposal includes five changes: 1/ The inclusion of a yet undetermined number of Assisted Living Facility residences to the lower level(s) of two approved high-rise pods at West Bay; 2/ The addition of five boat docks on the Estero River which passes through the community; 3/ The conversion of temporary boat slips on the river to two permanent slips which would be used for West Bay water taxi service for its residents, and 4/ Creation of a permanent buffered boat and RV storage area in a presently unkempt 1.7 acres of the site where 20 to 30 boats are already stored.
 
Toth asked if the Assisted Living Facilities (ALF) be would be available for West Bay Club resident use only.  Schropp said that this is the plan.  Lienesch noted that the current boat storage space is “non-conforming” and that Lee County approval would make it in conformance with zoning requirements.  Discussion followed about the overall intended size of the boat/RV storage and access routing.  A Type C enhanced buffer is proposed around the area to protect nearby residences.  Schropp was asked for details of the ALF plans.  He replied that plans are still being developed.  Lienesch asked if there were any precedents for ALF facilities in existing residential communities and Noethlich asked Lee County Senior Planner Chip Block if the proposal created any special problems.  Block responded that this is a unique proposal and that a number of questions must be answered to county staff’s satisfaction before approval is issued.   Several residents of West Bay Club attending the meeting expressed support for the ALF plan, adding that a similar concept now exists at the Pelican Bay community.  A concern for lack of details was raised by several attendees.

Code Enforcement: 

Noethlich again questioned the newly constructed billboard adjacent to the north exit ramp of I-75 at Corkscrew Road and whether Lee County zoning provisions specific to Estero strictly prohibiting such signage facing Corkscrew Road or Lee County interchange signage regulations take precedence in this situation.  DeLisi recommended a meeting with Bob Stewart and Mary Zettel of Lee County to discuss this, and other infringements on Estero-specific signage regulations.  Estero resident Sam Levy, chairman of the ECCL’s Code Enforcement Committee, reported that several businesses in the community continually “push the envelope” in signage, particularly with banner advertising. He also praised Lee County Code Enforcement staff for its conscientious work in the community.  DeLisi recommended obtaining the advice of legal counsel before the next round of Estero land code revisions are requested. 
 
DeLisi: Motion: That The Panel authorize funds to retain a land use attorney for counsel in its further requests for Estero specific revisions in the Lee County Land Code.  Second: Lienesch.  Motion passed unanimously.
 
Noethlich asked DeLisi to conduct a search for a land use attorney with no conflicts of interest for this purpose.
 
The Panel further agreed to the concept of conducting a community-wide workshop to further address the signage issue in Estero.

2008 David Graham Award for Excellence In Development: 

DeLisi and Lienesch volunteered to reconvene the nominating committee in cooperation with the Estero Design Review Committee.   
 
Toth: Motion to adjourn.   Lienesch: Second.  Motion passed unanimously.   Meeting adjourned at 7:32 PM.
 
     NEXT MEETING: 6:00 PM, MONDAY, JANUARY 14TH , ESTERO COMMUNITY PARK