March 2007 Estero Development Report

Last month over 6,100 persons visited this site to learn about Estero.
One year ago in February the traffic was about 2,500 visitors.

Estero Community Planning Panel (ECPP)
Estero Civic Association (ECA)
Estero Design Review Committee (EDRC)
Estero Council of Community Leaders (ECCL)
Greater Estero Cultural Arts Council (Arts Estero)

The site is still in formation.…Your suggestions for improvement are most welcome.

Support for “The Conservancy” in their Fight Against the Agripartner’s Ditch/Canal

Agripartner’s Ltd. Partnership and Edison Farms, owners of 4,000 acres just east of I-75 in Estero, are seeking the approval of the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) to construct a four mile, 60 foot wide, five foot deep canal on their land along the east side of I-75 south of the Stoneybrook community. On December 14th, the Governing Board of SFWMD approved the Agripartner’s Ditch/Canal without any discussion.

District rules permit affected entities to file a Petition for Administrative Hearing within 21 days of any action by the SFWMD Governing Board. During this period both Lee County and The Conservancy of Southwest Florida filed the necessary petitions.

The cost of this appeal to the Conservancy is estimated to be over $50,000. Legal standing for the Conservancy’s Petition is enhanced by having a large number on Conservancy members in the vicinity of the project.

In order to satisfy both of these needs the Conservancy made an appeal to the members of the ECCL to join The Conservancy and to contribute to the legal fund it has created for its Agripartner’s appeal. At its March meeting the ECCL voted unanimously to join The Conservancy as a corporate member ($250). In addition the ECCL has encouraged all of its member communities and all the residents of Estero to join The Conservancy and to contribute to their Agripartners legal fund. For further information on The Conservancy, to join and to contribute see: http://www.conservancy.org/NETCOMMUNITY/Page.aspx?&pid=191&srcid=-2.

Lee Memorial “Focus Group” Participation In Support of Our Unmet Hospital Needs

On February 22nd the Lee Memorial Health Systems (LMHS) Board approved a “Community Health Visioning 2017” program for the system. The purpose of this program is to gain community-wide input in order to create a long-term vision for LMHS and for health care in the community a decade from now, e.g. to develop a pragmatic strategic vision for the Lee Memorial Healthcare System.

System President Jim Nathan has recruited over 30 business and community leaders to form a Steering Committee to guide this effort. Sam Levy, Vice Chair of the Estero Council of Community Leaders (ECCL), has been appointed to serve on the Steering Committee. In addition the Bonita Springs area is represented by David Shellenbarger, a resident of Bonita Bay and a member of the Boards of the Bonita and Southwest Florida Community Foundations.

The Steering Committee has decided to gather citizen input by hosting “focus groups” of 8 to 12 persons in communities and neighborhoods throughout Lee County between April 16th and May 15th. Sam Levy is now in the process of contacting community leaders throughout Estero to arrange focus group meetings fro the community. If you are interested in hosting a focus group in your community please contact Sam at 992-5383. Read more about the focus groups...

In addition Bonita City Councilman Joyce, Sam Levy, David Shellenbarger and Don Eslick have been meeting with firms that have access to or produce up-to-date, objective and professional demographic information on south Lee County and other areas of the County. This information is designed to capture the areas total health care needs including “snow birds”, tourists and the rapidly increasing number of shoppers. It is hoped that Lee Memorial and NCH will find this information valuable as they proceed with their decision-making regarding the need for a hospital in south Lee County.

Reforming Condominium Association Insurance

On March 28th about 100 Estero residents attended a meeting sponsored by the ECCL Insurance Reform Task Force. The meeting featured three representatives of the Consumer Services Division of The Florida Department of Financial Services. Sen. Saunders and Rep. Williams were represented by staff at the meeting.

The officials confirmed that the actions taken by the legislature during their special session in January mainly focused upon individual homeowner insurance and that nothing significant was changed as far as condominium association insurance. They recommended that we contact our local legislators to inform them of our condo association insurance problems and encourage them to initiate and support changes for these associations.

The ECCL Insurance Task Force will be meeting with our legislators and their staff over the Easter Holidays to follow up on the need for insurance reform for condominium associations.

David Graham Award Nominees

The first annual David Graham Award will be awarded in 2007 by the Estero Community Planning Panel (ECCP) and the Estero Design Review Committee (EDRC) to recognize an exceptional development that has been completed within the Estero Community Planning area.

David Graham, an Estero resident and Bonita Bay Group executive, was well known for his leadership on a wide range of community issues, particularly in building regional consensus, environmental stewardship and raising the bar for development in the communities where he worked. He was named Lee County Citizen of the Year in February, 2005 for his work with a long list of community organizations devoted to land stewardship, responsible development and improving the quality of life in SW Florida.

Requests for nominations were publicized by the ECPP and EDRC in February, and, as of the March 31st deadline, four submissions from the community have been received.

Three of the submissions are for commercial developments; one is for residential.

A screening committee will be meeting this month to review the submissions, develop procedure to be used to rank these submissions and determine the next steps in the award review process.

The targeted venue for the award presentation is a forthcoming Urban Land Institute meeting later this spring.

Estero’s January-February Housing Permits Continue Slow

During February 80 housing units with a building value of $19.1 million were permitted in Estero. Housing units permitted during January and February were the lowest in the 8 years that the County’s system has tracked Estero’s permits. This result continues the trend established in 2006 and shows no sign that the market decline is slowing. The County permitting information used in this report may be found at http://www.lee-county.com/dcd/Reports/EsteroReports.htm.

The following table shows how January and February 2007 compares with the same period during the prior seven years:

Year	Annual Total Housing Units	Building Value of Units	Average Building Value Per Unit	Percentage of Single Family Units
2000	329	$42,541,070	$129,304	32%
2001	289	48,480,616	167,753	57
2002	191	35,231,265	184,457	56
2003	376	58,389,301	155,291	31
2004	248	46,184,756	186,229	76
2005	491	104,218,898	212,258	43
2006	165	35,590,118	215,698	27
2007	139	34,406,017	247,525	20

In spite of the decline in the number of housing units permitted, the average building value, excluding the land beneath it, continues to increase, up significantly from the prior high set last year. The average building value is almost double (up 91%) from the average in 2000, in spite of having the smallest percentage (20%) of single family homes yet recorded.

Permitted Commercial Building Value Continues Strong Expansion

The value of commercial buildings permitted in Estero during January and February totals $33.2 million. The only time this total was exceeded was last year when $56.3 million was permitted during the same two month period. Estero’s commercial permits during 2006 totaled $184.7 million, exclusive of the underlying land.

REMINDER: The building values understate the cost of each residence or commercial building because it excludes the value of the underlying land.

Brief Roadway Status Report

The following seven road segments will greatly improve traffic conditions in Estero and the surrounding community. They are either under construction or will be within the next few months. While their construction will create some congestion over the next year or two, they will greatly benefit traffic conditions in Estero in the long run.

Via Coconut Point (formerly Sandy Lane)

As of December 2006 three segments of this new four lane roadway extending about 3 miles from Corkscrew Road and the traffic roundabout south of Coconut Road plus a segment of Pelican Colony Boulevard extending west over to US 41 are now open and available for use. This thoroughfare is designed to take about 10,000 vehicles per day off of US 41 in the vicinity of the Coconut Point Town Center. The Alignment Study for this road contemplates continuation of the road to a southern terminus at Old 41 in Bonita Springs.

I-75 Six Laning

In February the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) awarded a contract for widening I-75 to six lanes from Colonial Boulevard in Ft Myers to Golden Gate Parkway in Naples, a distance of 30 miles. The project is set to begin construction in May and for completion in late 2010, a three and one half year project. Usually a project of this scope would be treated as several separate projects, phased sequentially, taking much more years to complete.

For about a year the Southwest Florida Expressway Authority has been studying how to finance the widening of I-75 from 6 to 10 lanes prior to 2030, when that improvement is currently planned. The Authority’s consultants have recommended that the fifth and sixth lanes be tolled as soon as possible in order to generate the funds necessary to start the 10 laning upon the completion of the six laning project, about 2010, instead of 2030.

The Authority has authorized an effort to determine if the public will support this trade-off: change the 5th and 6th lanes into toll lanes so that the 7th through 10th lanes can be built about 15 years earlier than presently planned.

At its March 15th meeting the Expressway Authority also discussed holding a referendum on this issue either in September or November, 2007. On the following day the Joint Lee and Collier Metropolitan Planning Organizations also discussed this proposal. Both organizations seem to support the fall referenda idea.

Three Oaks Parkway from Coconut Road to East Terry Street

This long segment of new four lane road was started on May 8, 2006. On March 19th the project was projected to be half complete, 315 days of a 630 day contract, if done on time. This new road segment is expected to be up and operating in January 2008, in time for next year’s peak season. To review a video of the road’s construction progress see the following Lee DOT website http://www.lee-county.com/publicworks/Video/ThreeOaksSouth/Jan07.gif .

Imperial Street between Bonita Beach Road and East Terry Street

This short new four lane road project was started on July 17, 2006. On April 18th the road is expected to be 50% complete, day 285 on a 570 day contract, if done on time. This project is complicated by the need to build a new bridge over the Imperial River. This segment is also expected to be open to the public in January 2008, just in time for the “season”. To review a video of the road’s construction progress see the following Lee DOT website http://www.lee-county.com/publicworks/Video/imperial/Jan2007.gif .

When this and the prior project are complete Estero residents will be able to travel all the way to Naples’ Radio Road on this new four lane corridor because it directly connects with the existing segments of Livingston Road

Three Oaks Parkway 4-Laning between Corkscrew and Alico Roads

Construction of this four lane widening project began on December 4, 2006. Thus the project is now in the fourth month of a thirteen month contract. The additional lanes will also be open to the traveling public in January 2008, in time for use during our next “season”. To review a video of the road’s construction progress see the following Lee DOT website http://www.lee-county.com/publicworks/Video/ThreeOakW/Jan2007.gif .

When complete this segment will permit motorists to travel from Alico Road in Ft Myers to Radio Road in Naples upon a continuous 4 lane highway.

Estero Parkway Overpass between Three Oaks Parkway and Ben Hill Griffin

Lee County advertised this project for bids in late March. The County has received FDOT’s final air-rights approval and the BOCC is expected to vote its approval within the next couple of weeks. The final permit is the Army Corps permit and it is expected very soon. The County is optimistic that it will get some favorable bids because the winning contractor can coordinate this work with the I-75 widening project which surrounds this site both to the north and to the south.
Corkscrew Road from Ben Hill Griffin to East of the Bella Terra Development

This project would widen Corkscrew Road to four lanes between Ben Hill Griffin to a point about 2 miles to the east, by the Bella Terra residential development.

In spite of some very favorable bids on this project the BOCC voted 3-2 not to accept any of them at this time. This roadway was planned to be financed by a special district composed of the businesses and residential communities located along the road. Since the County and the developers along the road entered into this agreement the cost of the project has increased dramatically. Thus an agreement between the developers and the County has now resulted in the cost increase being shifted to the residents and businesses that have purchased property from those developers, often without knowing that they would be obligated to make these payments.

For some time the residents have tried to get the County to pick up some of these cost increases, something the County has refused to do inasmuch as they have a contract that requires others to pay. There have also been discussions about getting other users of the road to help pay for the increased cost of the widening, such as the land owners east of this area. Research has indicated that this is not feasible.

Thus this project has been delayed indefinitely inasmuch as the bid acceptance period has expired.

Other Future Road Projects

Coconut Road/US 41 Intersection

The development order for site preparation of Coconut Crossings, the development on the northwest corner of Coconut Road and US 41, requires the developer to improve the Coconut/US 41 intersection by adding several lanes to Coconut as it approaches US 41 from the west so that it will align properly with the east side of Coconut Road at the intersection. The work has not begun to date because Lee County DOT and Florida DOT have not issued the necessary permits. According to JED Development, the developers of Coconut Crossings, these permits are expected within a month or two. Once the permits are issued the contractor will begin the improvement, a project that is expected to take about 6 months to complete.

Roadway Landscaping Update

US 41 between Corkscrew and Old 41 in Bonita Springs

The landscaping plan for US 41 has completed the bidding process with four bids being received. The Board of County Commissioners has approved the contract for this $1.5 million project. The County issued its “notice to proceed” on March 15th thus authorizing the contractor to begin the project. Work should be getting underway shortly and installation should be complete by October.

Estero Parkway between US 41 and Three Oaks Parkway

Now that the sales center at The Reserve at Estero has been removed and the final median opening closed the County Department of Transportation bid the project, selected the contractor and authorized the firm to proceed. Since the irrigation system has been installed the project should be completed within a month.

Estero Fire Rescue (EFR) Five Year Financial Master Plan

The Estero Fire Commissioners have in the past solely used prior year income and expenses to prepare their budget for the upcoming fiscal year. Historically, this caused expenses to be budgeted based on just what is needed for the next year without consideration of the long term needs of the District.

In 2006 the Commissioners voted to upgrade the District’s financial planning process and hired a consultant to help them develop an improved system. The new budgeting process will:

o establish a budget that looks five years into the future each year
o plan for the creation of needed reserves for equipment and capital
improvements
o view growth on a cost basis for more than one year at a time
o produce a living document that can be updated each year
o have the ability to plan where EFR needs to be, or should be, five years from now.

The initial plan has not been finalized at this time. It could be greatly impacted by some of the property tax reform measures presently being debated in the Florida Legislature. Special districts (such as EFR) may bear the brunt of property tax reform because fire districts rely so heavily on property taxes for their funding. Estero residents should be aware that their fire services may be impacted. The district undertook this initiative in order to permit it to better anticipate the continuing growth of the community and the increased services that growth will require. The EFR Board will review the five year plan again once the legislature and the Governor have completed their tax reform effort.

Halfway Creek Floway Restrictions

On March 5th representatives of the communities along Halfway Creek met with South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) staff to discuss the water flow restrictions along Halfway Creek and how they might be eliminated. Halfway Creek is the floway that traverses The Brooks and Coconut Point from east to west; then travels between Marsh Landing and Fountain Lakes and turns north to enter Estero Bay after passing through the West Bay Club.

Restrictions to the South of The Brooks…The District was pleased to learn about discussions on the south restrictions between the two Brooks Community Development District (CDD) Boards and the San Carlos Estates Water District Board inasmuch as Spring Creek, the tributary that serves San Carlos Estates has surplus water flow capacity. The District representatives agreed to look into the sizing of the culverts to be installed under Strike Lane and Old 41 as they are widened.

Restrictions to the North of The Brooks… The participants discussed three aspects of this floway. They were:

• The weir on the east side of the Williams Road/Three Oaks Parkway intersection and if the permitting for the eastern gate of this structure could be changed in order to lower the level of the water to the south in pre-flood periods. The SFWMD would probably approve such a change if The Brooks CDD would pay the costs of making the change.
• The fixed weir about 2,000 feet to the north of this intersection and if its height could be permanently lowered by about 6 inches so that the water level in the area could be lowered by this amount during pre-flood times. This would require an increase in the size of the ditch between the two weirs. The community representatives were directed to Lee County DOT for resolution of this question.
• The 200 foot ditch between the fixed weir and the Estero River and the thick growth that needs to be cleaned out of this area. Once again the participants were directed to Lee DOT.

Restrictions to the West of The Brooks… there are two areas of culvert obstructions between The Brooks and the west side of US 41. They are:

• Boulders and felled maleluka trees blocking water passage in the culverts under the Seminole Gulf Railroad tracks. This is the responsibility of the railroad, and
• Silt buildup in the culverts under US 41, especially the southernmost barrel. This is the responsibility of Florida DOT.

Restrictions West of US 41… The main restriction to water flow west of US 41 is at the “force sewer main” located in the FPL right of way that follows the western boundary of Marsh Landing and passes through the western part of Fountain Lakes. There had once been a railroad bridge over Half Way Creek at this point. The bridge has been removed, but the bridge abutments remain. When the private utility serving Fountain Lakes and Marsh Landing built its treatment plant on the southern Fountain Lakes side of the creek, a “force main” consisting of a 6 inch pipe (best knowledge) was installed along the RR right of way. At Half Way Creek, the pipe was dropped further under ground, below the creek bed. The specifics of the “force main” are described in “as built” drawings now in the possession of some of the participants.

Ned Dewhirst, who formerly worked for the engineering firm that has done much of the drainage work in the area, observed that this restriction not only was a cause for flooding concern, but the reason that the water levels in the Brooks remained so high for so long after rain events. Having such high continuing water levels, between storms, could cause major flooding conditions to develop because of water accumulations even if no 3, 5 or 25 year rain event occurred.

The opening for Half Way Creek is now restricted to about 30 ft wide at that point and needs to be about 80 ft wide for proper flow.

Andy Tilton, the engineer for The Brooks CDDs, suggested that with the use of directional drilling, it might be possible to put a new parallel line under Half Way Creek for a “reasonable” price of $50,000 to $60,000. This is a much lower cost estimate than had previously been considered. Alternatively, it might be possible to directionally drill and connect to the existing pipe, simply adding more underground width under the creek. Ned Dewhirst offered to follow up on this important issue with the appropriate agency that he believes to be the State Department of Environmental Protection.