Estero Community Planning Panel

Minutes of Public Meeting #95 - January 14. 2008
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; Treasurer: Beverly MacNellis, ECCL. 
 
Noethlich called the meeting to order at 6:00 PM.

Public Participation:

One hundred eight participants were present including 100 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 January 9th.  Notices of the meeting were posted in the South Regional Library, Colonial Bank, Estero Community Park and Realty World of Estero.

Secretary’s Report:

Ramsburg distributed minutes of the December meeting.  Toth: Motion to accept minutes.  Goodrich: Second.  Report accepted unanimously. 

Treasurer’s Report:

MacNellis reported a current balance of $2,195.25 in the Community Planning Panel account on deposit at Colonial Bank in Estero. Goodrich: Motion to accept   Toth: Second.  Report accepted unanimously.  Lienesch asked if the  income, derived from $100 voluntary fees paid by developers presenting proposals to the Estero community at EDRC public reviews in conjunction with applications to Lee County for development orders, will be sufficient to cover expenses going forward.  Noethlich said that the sharp decline in the Estero Community Plan Fund account balance over past months has been a concern that will have to be addressed.  Major expense categories include EDRC professional secretary expense, ECPP/EDRC public meeting notice expenses, annual insurance and corporation filing fees, and the ECPP/EDRC portion of website expenses.

Developer Presentation

The Preserve at Corkscrew RPD

(fka Cypess Shadows):

Ray Blacksmith of Cameratta Properties presented a proposal to change the previously approved plan for the 350.6 acre site located on the south side of Corkscrew Road, west of Bella Terra, three miles east of I-75.  Blacksmith explained that Cameratta Properties bought the site from Lennar Homes in 2007 and market conditions dictated the changes which do not affect onsite preserves. The new plan eliminates an 88.5 acre golf course and reduces the total number dwelling units from 770 to 520.  The plan reduces the number of multi-family residences from 670 to 200 while it raises the single-family units from 100 to 320.  Blacksmith said that the single family lots would be approximately 90 by 160 feet and homes would be built by contractors chosen by purchasers of the lots. Cameratta requests that the development’s 16.6 acre tract designated for amenities be zoned CPD to allow construction of a five to seven thousand square foot restaurant, open to the public, at the development’s main entrance. He also outlined a number of amenities that will be available to residents.
 
Noethlich asked if projected traffic on Corkscrew Road would be affected.  Blacksmith replied that a traffic study is currently underway and that a slight increase is expected.  Noethlich said he would like to see more discussion about the proposal to build a commercial restaurant on the site and what other commercial uses the developer will propose.  He also advised Blacksmith to discuss the proposal with the Corkscrew Road Service Area (CRSA) Advisory Committee.  Toth’s questioned the CPD requested for the entire 16.5 amenities tract which will include the proposed public restaurant.  Blacksmith said that the developer has no intent to convert any more of the tract to public commercial use and that the restaurant was to be the only public use of the CPD.
 
Wildcat Run resident Gordon Lyons, co-chair of the Estero Design Review Committee, citing traffic congestion outside the sports bar at Stonybrook’s entrance, said that he would like to see specific plans in the zoning as to the type of restaurant that is proposed before its approval.

Administrative Amendment - Broadway Grande Shoppes:

Cody Vaughan-Birch of Henderson, Franklin, Starnes & Holt, P.A., representing property owner and developer of the five acre site Rick Johnson, presented a proposal to reduce the width of the landscape buffer between the site and US 41.  Broadway Grande Shoppes is under construction at the northeast corner of US 41 and Broadway in Estero. Vaughan-Birch explained that the planned future widening of US 41 will require FDOT to obtain land originally designed for the site’s buffering along US 41.  He said that the variance, reducing the buffer at its narrowest point from 25 feet to ten feet, will not reduce the total amount of landscaping and plantings within the Type E buffer, adding  that landscape architects have increased the amount of plantings in an effort to compensate for the loss of width.  Noethlich asked if the landscaping would be high enough to mask cars parked at the site.  Vaughan-Birch said it would.
 
MacNellis asked about the ownership of the pylon mounted, full sized billboard located at the front of the property.  Johnson said that the billboard sits on a small space of land leased by the previous owner to the outdoor advertising company that with no early termination possible. 
 
Lyons recommended that the developer consult with the EDRC concerning the change in the landscaping.  Lienesch suggested that the developer learn FDOT’s specific plans before any changes are made.

Followup Developer Presentation, CorkscrewASAP Mini Storage:

Fred Drovdlic of Quattrone & Associates and landscape architect Josh Kelley representing the developers presented plans for 150,000 square feet of self-storage units proposed for the five acre site on the south side of Corkscrew Road approximately 500 feet east of Stonybrook Drive.  The presentation, focusing on appearance and landscaping, was a followup to address concerns raised by the Panel in October.  Noethlich and Lyons commented that the plans represented a nice change from earlier plans.  The Panel had no specific criticism of the plans, however, Toth cautioned that the community is sensitive to the facades of all structures that can be seen from roadways.  Estero LDC requires that any facade with can be seen from adjacent streets needs to be dressed with architectural details and landscaping.  The Panel relies on Lee County Staff to ensure that design parameters are met.

Amendment to Midtown Estero West MPD:

Pete Pellinto, Michelle Salberg, Teri Ceronson and Garrett Bender representing Ascot Development, presented a proposal to amend plans for the 48.2 acre site located at the southwest corner of Corkscrew Road and Three Oaks Parkway.  Pellinto said that the mixed use development has been approved as the site for 234 multi-family units and 90,000 square feet of office and retail use.  The requested changes include a 135,000 square foot “big box” store, a 20,000 square foot office or retail building and six outparcels of one to two acres each for commercial or office use.  The proposal replaces the 234 residential units with 100 “workforce housing” units - available to those earning from 80 to 140% of the median income level - on the west side of the Estero River which bisects the property.  Pellinto said that Ascot proposes the develop the housing in conjunction with Lee County and a grant from the Community Workforce Housing Initiative Pilot Program, (CWHIP).
 
Toth asked why Ascot has confidence in obtaining CWHIP participation.  Salberg said that Ascot was meeting with Lee County to pursue it.  Lienesch asked Noethlich if the Panel was prepared to endorse Ascot’s efforts.  Noethlich replied that it was not.
 
Noethlich asked why a big box retail operation is included in the proposal as opposed to a greater breakup of stores. Pellinto answered that current market conditions dictated the decision. Noethlich expressed concern about the advisability of another big box store in the immediate area and that another big box at this intersection did not fit the Panel’s vision for that corner.  Pellinto replied that the site’s location would make it attractive to big box operators. 
 
A comment from the audience that no more big box operations were needed in Estero drew applause.  Toth said that he could not endorse the new proposal as it stands.  Public comment and related discussion had to be limited due to the 8:00 PM closing time for the park building.  Noethlich expressed regret for this circumstance and apologized to the audience.
 
Noethlich asked that the presenters keep the Panel informed of its negotiations with Lee County.
 
Toth: Motion to adjourn.   DeLisi: Second.  Motion passed unanimously.   Meeting adjourned at 7:59 PM.

NEXT MEETING: 6:00 PM, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 11TH, ESTERO COMMUNITY PARK.