Estero Community Planning Panel

Minutes of
Public Meeting #99

May 19, 20078
Estero Community Park, Estero, Florida

Panel Members Present

Jack Lienesch, Acting Chairman, Estero Civic Association; Greg Toth , Estero Development Community; John Goodrich, Estero Council of Community Leaders; Tom O’Dea, ECCL; Dan DeLisi, Estero Development Community; Lin Welch, Estero Chamber of Commerce. Recording Secretary: Bill Brown, ECCL; Treasurer: Beverly MacNellis, ECCL.   Lienesch called the meeting to order at 6:03 PM.

Public Participation

Fifty participants were present including thirty-five members of the general public.  Brown reported that public notices of the meeting appeared 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/EDRC/ECA, the News-Press, the Bonita Daily News and Estero Fire Rescue.  A paid advertising notice of the meeting was placed in the Bonita Banner of May14th.   Notices of the meeting were posted in the South Regional Library, Colonial Bank, Wachovia Bank and Realty World of Estero.

Treasurer’s Report

MacNellis reported a current balance of $1,083.50 in the Community Planning Panel account on deposit at Colonial Bank in Estero. Toth: Motion to accept   Goodrich: Second.  Report accepted unanimously.

Secretary’s Report

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

Developer Presentations

LeeComm

Developer Ensite’s proposal was presented by Steven C. Hartsell of the Pavese Law Firm and Stephen Sposato, Principal/Director of Planning for Ensite.  The 3.6 acre project is located just north of the Intersection with Estero Parkway, on the West side of US41.  A maximum of 37,800 square feet of commercial/ and/or retail development with a height of forty-five feet is proposed. Three buildings are proposed with one access entrance to US41 and interconnections to the north and south adjacent parcels.  The Panel’s primary concern was with the three variations being requested: (1) A 10 foot buffer along the southern boundary line; (2) A 20 foot buffer instead of 30 feet adjacent to US 41; (3) Enhanced landscaping behind building in front of Breckenridge in lieu of a solid wall or berm. The developer said they had met with the Executive Committee of the Breckenridge Master Board and they were agreeable.  DeLisi objected to reducing the buffer along US41. Toth suggested that the buffer reductions should be contingent on an in and out entrance on US41 being granted. Both DeLisi and Toth said the schedule of potential uses should be reduced. Toth suggested there were about 15 uses that need to be eliminated and that the developer should meet with representatives of the Panel and agree on a revised list.  Lienesch suggested that the presenters meet with two panel members off line to resolve these issues.

Mid-Towne Estero

Pete Pelleritio, Director of Land Development, West Coast, Ascot Development presented its proposed project which is basically the same as what was presented to the ECPP in January.  This is the seventh time this property was discussed at the ECPP.  The original (2005) was for a mixed use development including 376 residential homes.  The current proposal includes 92 workforce housing units and a 135,000 square foot big box store abutting the Estero river with several outlots.  Goodrich indicated that the Panel showed no support for this change in January, and nothing had changed since then. Toth said the project gets worse and worse and there is no apparent need for a big box in that area.  It is near the river and residences. An in and out entrance on Corkscrew will generate more traffic than the already overburdened Corkscrew Road can handle. Also much of the property appears to be in the new flood plain designation. DeLisi agreed with Toth’s comments. O’Dea indicated he didn’t like the project. Lienesch said that following the last hearing the Panel had sent a letter to Mary Gibbs, the Director of the County Development Department telling her that the Panel couldn’t support the project as revised. He added he doesn’t see any reason to change the Panel’s position and asked for comments from the audience: Carl Levin said a lawn and garden center close to the River would create a serious rat problem. Sam Levy said Corkscrew Road would not be able to handle the traffic until Corkscrew is widened to six lanes. Dan Dronkers said a big box so near the river doesn’t make ecological sense. Nick Batos feared that with projects like this Corkscrew would soon look like Bonita Beach Road.  Jane McNew said there is no need for a big box or any more small businesses in this area. Jack Meeker was glad to see the Panel doesn’t support the project.  Dave Bowden described the terrible traffic situation on Three Oaks currently at 5:30 PM.  Arnie Rosthenthal pointed out that traffic and flooding would be serious problems, that it would make Gladious and 41 look good. Lienesch reported this project is scheduled to be heard by the Hearing Examiner on May 28 and that the meeting minutes will reflect the Panel’s opposition.

ECPP

Plans were discussed to make Neal Noethlich  a non-voting emeritus member of the Panel at the next meeting after his formal resignation is received.  Lienesch said the Panel may skip the June meeting. Goodrich reported that Noethlich has suggested that the Panel proceed with the $50,000 County grant request to up-date the Estero Plan with an emphasis on tightening up the signage provisions. Representatives of the Panel will meet with the County Planning staff to move this project along. The ECPP and EDRC 2008 Award for Excellence in Development will be presented to Bonita Bay for their Brooks development at the Urban Land Institute meeting at the Three Oaks Banquet Center on May 22.  Lienesch also called attention to a June 26th seminar on the Sunshine Law at which the Panel will be represented.