ESTERO COMMUNITY PLANNING PANEL

Minutes of Public Meeting #108 – October 19, 2009

Estero Community Park, Estero, Florida

Panel Members Present: Jack Lienesch, Chairman, Estero Civic Association; Dan DeLisi, Estero Development Community; John Goodrich, ECCL; Greg Toth, Estero Development Community ; Treasurer: Bev MacNellis, ECCL; Recording Secretary: Bill Brown, ECCL    Absent: Lin Welch and Erik Dickens.

Public Participation: Lienesch called the meeting to order at 6:04 PM.   Brown reported that the meeting notice appeared in the News-Press on Website Calendar and Esterofl.org website. 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 July meeting. Goodrich: Motion to accept minutes. Toth: Second. Accepted unanimously.

Treasurer’s Report: Bev MacNellis reported that there had been no income or expenditures during the last month and as of September 30 the balance was $765.61 in the Community Planning Panel account on deposit at the BB&T Bank. Goodrich: Motion to accept the previous report as current. Toth: Second. Accepted unanimously.

ECCP:

Estero High School Sign: Lienesch reported that the Assistant Principal of the Estero High School had sent him a design for a new high school sign which he passed on to the Design Review Committee. They determined that the proposed sign did not meet the Estero sign requirements of the Lee County Development Code. The proposed design is for a pedestal sign and the Estero section of the Code calls for monument signs. Also the proposal calls for an electronic LED sign which is prohibited. Toth and DeLisi disagreed as to whether or not the Estero sign design provisions applies to the School Board; therefore it was agreed that Lienesch would contact Donna Marie Collins at the County Attorney’s Office for a clarification.

Southland Village proposal ( previously known as Estero 35, North of Ken Johnson’s Broadway Shops). Lienesch said that Southland had been scheduled for this evening’s meeting, but due to a conflict with a Fort Myers hearing on another project they asked to be rescheduled for November. Bev MacNellis reported that Marlene Fernandez was concerned that the Southland proposal could increase the flooding problem for her property on Trailside Drive on the west side of US41. She will advise Marlene of the November hearing. DeLisi said Southland has revised their mixed use proposal which they will present to the ECPP on November 16.

Wal-Mart: Lienesch reported on Wal-Mart’s desire to redesign the store and add three additional outlots fronting on US 41. Nothing further has been heard from Wal-Mart since the August 26^th meeting with some ECCL and ECPP members and residents of the Vines. Don Eslick held a Workshop on the subject on September 11 designed primarily to educate new residents on the current design and zoning which was the result of much hard work by the ECPP and ECCL. Both the Vines and the Breckenridge Master Boards have voted to support that zoning and oppose any major changes. Toth and DeLisi said that while they could agree to a smaller store they would be opposed to changes in the appearance and additional out-lots which hurt the outstanding landscaping that is required in the current zoning.

Midtowne Estero: Lienesch reported that the Lee County online docket shows no action since July 9 on Midtowne’s suit against the County for denying their rezoning request. This resulted when the County Commission agreed with the Estero community’s united opposition to the rezoning request.

Signage language: Lienesch reported that the Design Review Chairman Tom O’Dea is back and will resume his efforts to work with the County to tighten the Estero Sign provisions in the Development Code.

Estero Parkway flyover dedication on October 23: Lienesch discussed with the Panel comments he plans to make at the dedication.

Meeting adjourned at 7:00 PM.  

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