ESTERO COMMUNITY PLANNING PANEL

Minutes of Public Meeting #112 – February 15, 2010

Estero Community Park, Estero, Florida

Panel Members Present: Jack Lienesch, Civic Association,  Chairman;  John Goodrich , ECCL;  Erik Dickens, ECCL; Lin Welch, Estero Chamber of Commerce;  Dan DeLisi, Estero development community;  Greg Toth, Estero development community; Treasurer: Bev MacNellis, ECCL and Bill Brown, Recording Secretary, ECCL. Absent:, Neal Noethlich

Public Notice: Lienesch called the meeting to order at 6:01 PM.  Brown reported that the meeting notice appeared in the  Century-Link Estero Events Calendar and Esterofl.org websites. The notice was posted at the South County Regional Library, Realty World of Estero, the BB&T and Wachovia Banks.

Secretary’s Report: Brown distributed minutes of the January  meeting.  Goodrich: Motion to accept minutes as corrected. : Dickens Second.  Accepted unanimously. 

Treasurer’s Report:    Treasurer Bev MacNellis reported that the current balance of $424.61 is in the Community Planning Panel account on deposit at the BB&T Bank.  Dickens: Motion to accept the report as e-mailed. Goodrich: Second.  Accepted unanimously.

Developer Presentations: Estero Greens Administrative Amendment – Veronica Martin of TDM Consulting.

Estero Greens (a.k.a. Estero 41) is north of Galloway Ford on US41. Three buildings have been zoned on this property: 1. A beer & wine store at the rear, 2. A liquor store at the front S, and 3, a restaurant at the front N.  The request would reduce the required distance from the rear property line for outdoor dining at the restaurant from 400 to 300 feet. Toth asked if the developer had met with Fountain Lakes which abuts the property in the back.  Since they indicated they have not met with Fountain Lakes, he suggested they should.  Welch indicated she did not see any problem. DeLisi asked if there would be a wall separating their property from Fountain Lakes.  Ms. Martin answered that would be a berm and landscaping. DeLisi said something needed to be done to manage noise. Dickens noted that the power line right away would allow noise to carry through.  Lienesch suggested that the only problem would be amplified noise from outside entertainment.  Ms. Martin suggested they could have a condition for no outside entertainment.  Carl Hoke from Fountain Lakes, who was on the Panel when the zoning for this property was adopted, asked about the height of the building in the back which could help block the sound.   The master concept plan indicates that 45 feet would be the maximum.

Lienesch summarized and stated that  the Panel could support the requested administrative amendment provided there is a reduction in the number of usages, a maximum building size and provision for noise reduction including a wall in the back. He stated he would send a note to Pam Houck so stating with a copy to Ms. Martin.

ECPP: Right lane on Broadway at US 41. Lienesch reported that the County would require the sidewalk to be moved to install a right turn lane. He will continue to work with Neale Montgomery, Rick Johnson and Harry Campbell from the County Traffic Department to see how this can be done.

Coconut Crossing  clean up. Lienesch said a landscape buffer is needed. The County is working on this.

Amendment to Corkscrew Overlay to prohibit Big Boxes.   Delisi and Toth indicated they didn’t think it would necessary because there are no more possible location for a Big Box on those properties West of Three Oaks.

Developers check list on website.

After our discussions for the last two months, the strawman we've been developing is as follows:

1. Where is the property and what is on the surrounding properties?

2. What zoning changes are you requesting from the county?

3. Project narrative -- what is the plan for the property?

4. An illustration of the Master Concept Plan for the development showing density, building height, traffic patterns, etc.

5. What are the projected usages?

6. What deviations, if any, are being requested from the applicable zoning restrictions?

The panel was asked to look at our website and the developer’s checklist to see if this list would suffice.

Signage. Lienesch discussed a possible workshop to discuss this issue.  DeLisi suggested a County requirement that all proposed signs be reviewed by our Design Review Committee.

Update on David Graham Award for 2010. Dickens is scheduling a committee meeting in early March.

Member issues. Lin Welch said that since family obligations were hampering her participation as a Panel she had suggested replacements to the Chamber and she had offered to act as a back-up.  The Chamber will name a replacement. The Panel went on record expressing its appreciation for her service.

Meeting adjourned at 7:25 PM.

 NEXT MEETING:

            6:00 PM, MONDAY, March 15,  ESTERO COMMUNITY PARK