Estero Community Planning Panel

Minutes of Public Meeting #103 - January 19. 2009
Estero Community Park, Estero, Florida

Panel Members Present:

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

Pre-Meeting Presentation:

To accommodate Ascot Development’s late request to present revised plans for Midtowne Estero, a proposed MPD on the 48 acre site at the southwest corner of Corkscrew Road and Three Oaks Parkway, Lienesch assembled the Panel for a special pre-meeting presentation.  Matt Craig and Jeff Curl of PK Architectural Studios of Naples addressed issues raised in previous Panel meetings - primarily the number, size, access and appearance of its outlots.  Ascot is also proposing a rezoning of the site from 90,000 square feet of commercial space and 296 residential units to +/-200,000 square feet of commercial space and 92 residential units.  The Panel complimented Craig on the appearance projections and plans to control future development of the site’s outlots, but questioned the increase in its commercial space.

Lienesch called the scheduled meeting to order at 6:17 PM.

Public Participation:

Thirty-six participants were present including thirty members of the general public.  Ramsburg reported that public notices of the meeting were distributed to 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 the community Web site, www.esterofl.org.  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 November meeting.  DeLisi: Motion to accept minutes.  Toth: Second.  Report accepted unanimously. 

Treasurer’s Report:

MacNellis reported a current balance of $964.41in the Community Planning Panel account on deposit at Colonial Bank in Estero. She reported that the Estero Council of Community Leaders has agreed to pay the ECPP and EDRC’s  $60 monthly share of community Web site maintenance for www.estero.org.  The Panel also received a temporary loan from the Estero Community Improvement Foundation for $796.66. Toth: Motion to accept   DeLisi: Second.  Report accepted unanimously.

Noethlich Replacement:

Lienesch introduced Estero resident Eric Dickens, the Estero Council of Community Leaders’ nominee to replace Noethlich on the Panel.  Noethlich, founding chair of the Panel, was nominated as a non-voting member emeritus of the Panel. Toth: Motion to appoint Dickens and Noethlich to their respective positions.  DeLisi: Second.  Motion unanimously passed.

Walmart Request for Zoning Amendment:

Michelle Belaire of Walmart and Jeffery Satfield and John Melendez, both of CPH Engineering, presented Walmart’s proposal for a zoning amendment to expedite construction of a new Walmart Supercenter, approved for the northeast corner US 41 at Estero Parkway, but contingent upon the beginning of construction to widen US 41 to six lanes between Estero and San Carlos Park.  Walmart seeks to eliminate this “super-concurrency” item from its zoning.  Satfield cited lower traffic counts on US 41 and Estero Parkway. He added that all traffic improvements to the site will be in the first phase of the development’s construction and that a new stoplight will be installed at the intersection with the opening of the Estero Parkway flyover of I-75 to Ben Hill Griffin.  The Panel was supportive of the request.  

Vines Alzheimer’s Center:

Q. Grady Minor, representing, Vines Acreage LLC, presented plans for a two story, 60 patient Alzheimer’s Disease adult living facility of 45,000 square feet on a five acre site fronting The Vines residential community on US 41 at Vintage Parkway.  The land is currently zoned for commercial use.  Minor said that county staff “has no problem” with an amendment for the proposed use while reserving a 1.4 acre site on the parcel for future commercial use.  The Panel requested to see the approved list of uses for that site and Minor replied that he would comply and trim the uses with Panel input.  The Panel supported his proposal for the Alzheimer’s center.

Fountain Lakes Professional Park:

Stacy Hewitt of Banks Engineering presented a proposal for the rezoning of a 1.45 acre site at the southwest corner of US 41 and Fountain Lakes Boulevard, fronting the Fountain Lakes residential community, to CPD.  The proposal was presented as either a combination of office and retail uses or as a bank with drive through facility and second floor office space.  The Panel had no objections to the proposed rezoning.

Beasley Broadcast Group:

Michael Cooney, Chief Technical Officer of BBG, reported that age and weather has deteriorated the structure and guy wires of its 480 foot broadcast and communications tower near the southeast corner of US 41 and Estero Parkway.

Beasley proposes to construct a new tower identical to the current tower some 30 feet from the present structure. The old tower will be dismantled when its replacement is built. Cooney added that additional landscaping will surround the new tower. 

North Point DRI:

Chuck Basinait of Henderson Franklin, Starnes & Holt said that due to economic conditions, the developers of the 102 acre site at the northeast corner of US 41and Williams Road are asking for an five year extension through 2014 of its permits for its MPD master plan.  No changes are requested in the plan. The Panel had no objections.

Proposed Red Sox Training Facility in South Lee County:

Lienesch reported that the Panel will withhold comment on the situation until a specific site is chosen for the 80 acre site.  He added that if a site within the Estero Planning Area is chosen, the Panel will request from Lee County the opportunity to participate in its planning.

DeLisi: Motion to adjourn.   Toth: Second.  Motion passed unanimously.   Meeting adjourned at 7:59 PM.  

NEXT MEETING: 6:00 PM, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16TH, ESTERO COMMUNITY PARK.