|
Estero Development Report
Volume 11, Number 3, Issued November 2011
Produced by the Estero Council of Community Leaders (ECCL)
December Opportunities for Citizen Participation
That will Protect Estero's Quality of Life
|
Date
|
Time
|
Event
|
Location
|
|
Friday, December 9th
|
10 a.m.
|
ECCL Regular Monthly Meeting
|
Estero Community Park
|
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Tuesday, December 13th
|
5:00 p.m.
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Estero Fire Rescue Monthly Board Meeting
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District Headquarters on Three Oaks just south of Corkscrew
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Wednesday, December 14th
|
5 p.m.
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Estero Design Review Committee (EDRC) meeting
|
Estero Community Park
|
|
Friday, December 16th
|
9 a.m.
|
Lee County MPO (Transportation Planning) meeting
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Bonita Springs City Hall on Bonita Beach Road just east of US 41
|
|
Friday, December 16th
|
12 p.m.
|
Historical Society Holiday Luncheon
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Estero Community Park
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Monday, December 19th
|
6 p.m.
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Estero Community Planning Panel (ECPP) Meeting
|
Estero Community Park
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Index
Estero Community Website (www.esterofl.org)
The community groups sponsoring the site are:
Estero Community Planning
Panel (ECPP)
Estero Community
Association (ECA)
Estero Design Review
Committee (EDRC)
Estero Council of Community
Leaders (ECCL)
Development Projects Now Underway
The Preserve at Corkscrew
Now
under construction…The
Preserve at Corkscrew (www.thepreserveatcorkscrew.com)
a new 510 acre gated residential community located on Corkscrew Road
approximately 2 miles east of I-75. The plans include 441
single-family home sites with the first 116 home sites expected to be
complete in February 2012. The community has been designed as a
quaint residential neighborhood consisting of a variety of single-family
homes, including estates.
Constructions of the on-site amenities are anticipated to begin in early
2012. The amenity package is expected to include a resort-style
swimming pool, fitness center with state-of-the-art equipment, gathering
room, aerobics, library, conference room, tennis courts, pool cabana
with a fireplace, and much more…
A
future full-service restaurant is also planned at the entrance on
Corkscrew Road. This additional amenity is to be provided at no
added expense to the homeowners association as it will be owned and
operated by a third-party user that will be open to the public.
The
developer,
Cameratta Companies,
has selected
Lennar Homes
and
Pulte
Homes
to be the Premier Builders within the community. Construction of
their model homes are scheduled to begin in December and will be ready
for viewing this season.
Development Projects
Now Under Review
Goodwill Retail and Donation Center
On
November 9th Goodwill Industries presented conceptual plans
for a 10,200 square foot retail and donation center to the Estero Design
Review Committee. The Center will feature clothing and some household
products. The facility will be located just left of the entrance drive
to the Estero Interstate Commerce Park located on the north side of
Corkscrew Road just west of I-75. Goodwill proposes to start
construction in the spring of 2012.
The
building will include trellises, two pergolas, and be painted in
Mediterranean colors. The
roof line will have different levels and peaks, covered with Spanish
barrel roof tiles. The
landscaping will feature mostly native trees and shrubs, including two
royal palms, cabbage palms, saw palmettos and podocarpus hedges.
Midtowne Estero East
On
November 9th Cameratta Properties presented two alternative
plans to the Estero Development Review Board (EDRC) for changing the
zoning of the Midtowne Estero East residential development that they
recently acquired. Midtowne Estero East is located on Three Oaks
Parkway, just south of the Lowes Store on the southeast corner of Three
Oaks Parkway and Corkscrew Road.
The
property is currently zoned for 201 townhomes.
The owners are proposing to change the plan to 102 single family
homes. By lowering the
density of the development the developer will also reduce the traffic on
Three Oaks in what has been an accident prone area.
The
EDRC looked favorably on both plans but recommended that Cameratta
present the plans to the Estero Community Planning Panel (ECPP) as well.
On November 21st Cameratta presented their plans to the ECPP.
Corkscrew Woods
On
November 9th Cameratta also presented the EDRC with
two
conceptual plans for the development of the recently mined-out Cemex
mine property located just east of
Bella Terra on the south side of east
Corkscrew Road. Once again Cameratta recently acquired this property.
The
owners are proposing 800 single family homes, with the possibility of
including a bundled golf course on this 722 acre
property. They plan a
clubhouse featuring a fitness center and tennis courts plus a public
restaurant at the front of the property.
There propose a 230-acre lake which will be used for kayaking and
paddle boats. They plan to
concentrate the density on the front of their property in order to
preserve some of the land in the back of the property that is next to
perpetually preserved CREW lands.
This
property is located in the Density Reduction/Groundwater Resource
(DR/GR) zoning area and is not within the Estero Community Plan
boundaries. The developer expressed a willingness to seek this change in
the County’s Comprehensive Plan. The pending DR/GR Plan does not
contemplate this property being developed as a high density housing area
but it does include a Transfer of Development Rights program that would
facilitate such a development.
The
EDRC favored the plan without the golf course and agreed with the
developer’s proposal for preserving the uplands so that the density of
the remaining land could be increased. Finally the EDRC recommended that
the developer also make this presentation to the ECPP. Once again
Cameratta presented their plans to the ECPP on November 21st.
Recently Completed Projects
Cayo
de Estero
The Cayo de Estero Shoppes
was completed during November. The developer did an outstanding job with
the design, construction and landscaping of this attractive strip
center.
In early February the developers of
Cayo de Estero Shoppesstarted construction of their three building
retail facility located on the west side of US 41 just north of Estero
Parkway and abutting the Breckenridge community. When completed the
three buildings in the development will total about 27,000 square feet
of commercial space. The zoning for the property was reviewed by the
Estero Community Planning Panel and the site plan; design and
landscaping were reviewed by the Estero Design Review Committee several
years ago.
During February the developers began construction
of Buildings 1 and 2 each of which will contain about 10,000 square
feet. At present the developer has not signed up any tenants but the
developers indicate that interest has picked up recently.
Coconut Point
Olive
Garden
Estero’s new
Olive Garden
restaurant opened for operation on October 24th.
It is located just south of the lake in Coconut Point.
Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Florida
The new Blue Cross/Blue
Shield of Florida building was completed during November, 2011.
The
Blue
Cross/Blue Shield of Florida
retail center is located on the empty plot of ground just south of Ted’s
Montana Grill in Coconut Point Town Center. The building is a new
prototype for Florida Blue Cross and Blue Shield and they are branding
this concept as “Florida Blue Lifestyle Solutions”. Construction began
in July 2011 on the 5,014 square foot building in Mediterranean style
compatible with the surrounding buildings in Coconut Point.
This new building is not
being erected just to sell insurance but will include gathering space
and meeting rooms where Florida Blue intends to offer classes and
information on healthy living options. Florida Blue Lifestyle Solutions
will employ 15 full time employees.
Coastal Village Off-Campus
Student Housing Development Postponed
Corlico LLC, the developers of the Coastal Village student housing
development on the east side of Three Oaks Parkway just north of Estero
Parkway has been postponed. When completed the project will consist of
14 more three story student residences on the 20 acre parcel owned by
the developer just south of the existing development.
This phase of the development will contain 164 housing units with each
unit occupied by four students for a total of 656 students. The existing
seventeen buildings in Coastal Village, which are fully occupied,
contain 200 units housing 800 students. Thus upon completion Coastal
Village will house 1,456 FGCU students.
Bonita Community Health Center News
Starting December 3rd Bonita Community Health Center (BCHC)
Will Extend Urgent Care Hours on Week-ends
The
South Lee County Hospital
Committee has been working with Lee Memorial and NCH healthcare
systems for over five years in an effort to improve the availability of
quality health care in Bonita Springs and Estero. Due to the fact that
the nearest Hospital is about 10 miles from the center of our
communities our short term goal has been to obtain a 24/7 Freestanding
Emergency Department.
During 2010 both Lee Memorial and NCH worked with the Committee to
determine if the Bonita Community Health Center (BCHC) in Coconut Point
could be modified to include a Freestanding Emergency facility. The
Committee’s study found that the BCHC facility could not accommodate a
24/7 Freestanding Emergency Department. The alternative became a new
building on property owned by Lee Memorial adjacent to the BCHC.
However the two healthcare systems, that are 50%/50% owners of the BCHC,
agreed to extend the hours of operation of the Walk-in Clinic/Urgent
Care facility in the BCHC.
Late in 2010 the BCHC increased their weekday Walk-In Clinic/Urgent Care
hours by three hours per day to 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
In April the BCHC announced that patient traffic during the
season had been great enough to warrant continuing these extended hours
during the summer months.
Subsequently, patient traffic during the summer extended hours turned
out to be good for the community’s health as well as the BCHC’s
finances.
The Bonita
Community Health Center (BCHC) will extend its Saturday and Sunday
Walk-In Clinic/Urgent Care hours to 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. beginning December
3, 2011.
The Committee continues to work on obtaining a 24/7 Free-standing
Emergency Department and eventually a hospital.
As a show of good faith
throughout 2011 the South Lee County Hospital Committee has worked with
the BCHC to market the facility and its services throughout Bonita
Springs and Estero. As a result of this joint effort the finances of the
BCHC partnership have greatly improved, thus putting both systems in a
better position to further improve south Lee County’s access to quality
health care.
December Seminars at the BCHC
Night
of Beauty… Complimentary Educational Seminar with Dr. Alina Stanciu
Wednesday, December 7th at 5 pm
in the BCHC Patient Education Room
Topics to be discussed:
·
European Face Lift
·
Botox
Cosmetic ·
Juvederm & all Dermal Fillers
·
Cosmetic/Functional Eye Lid Surgery ·
Skin
Care & Latisse
Where:
BCHC
Patient Education Room
Hors d’oeuvres will be
served.
Call
239.949.2020 to reserve your spot today!
Special Promotions for all those who attend.
Complimentary Foot and Ankle
Talk Covering Achilles & Heel Pain
Dr. Jamie Weaver, DPM Foot
and Ankle Surgeon of the Joint Replacement Institute
When:
December 14th from 12:00pm to 1:00pm
Where:
Patient Education Room at BCHC
Lunch
will be provided, space is limited, kindly RSVP by calling 676-2663
Calling All Volunteers
Bonita Community Health Center provides a wide range of volunteer
opportunities for those who want to make a difference by providing
support to our patients and staff. We need volunteers who will love
interacting with our patients, as well as those who prefer to provide
clerical or other support to the Center.
If you are interested in making a difference and joining our amazing group
of volunteers, please contact: Larisa Zadorecky at: (239) 949-1050 or
e-mail Larisa at: lzadorecky@bonitahealthcenter.com
Contest for a Cause
On
your next visit to BCHC vote for your favorite Gingerbread House. These
lovely houses are made by the people who work at Bonita Community Health
Center.
Voting will start on December 5th and the winner will be announced on
December 23rd at 2pm in the BCHC Lobby. Each vote is $1 and all proceeds
will benefit Relay for Life.
Annual Health Fair
Save the Date - BCHC 5th
Annual Health Fair
Saturday, January 14, 10:00am to 1:00pm
BCHC Speaker’s Bureau
The physicians at BCHC will come to your community to speak on a variety
of subjects of interest to your community.
The availability of the Speaker Topics offered may vary depending
on the time and day of the event.
Each event requires a minimum of 25 participants.
You will need to allow at least four weeks advance notice so the
physician can plan accordingly.
Contact Julie LeBriton, BCHC
Marketing Director, at (239) 949-6118, or email her at
JL@bonitahealthcenter.com,
for more information about this program or to reserve a speaker.
Updates on the Web
During December BCHC will launch a new website at
www.BCHCFL.com that will be easier
to navigate. The new website
will provide the convenience of forms which can be filled out before a
scheduled visit, as well as news, updates and contests.
BCHC is also updating
their Facebook page and would appreciate if you would “like” them.
Healthy Lifestyle Program under Development
BCHC has teamed up with The Commons Club Fitness & Spa at The Brooks to
help individuals improve their health through simple lifestyle changes.
What started as a pilot program in February, Living a Healthy Life (LHL)
now has five groups of participants in various stages in the journey to
improving their health.
On December 6, the latest group of 12 participants had their post
assessments done by BCHC and The Commons Club fit pro team. Dr.
Chip Shemansky of BCHC also performed a postural analysis. Several
members of the alumni group have continued the program and work to
encourage the newer members of LHL.
In
addition to the pre and post assessment analysis, the program also
includes personal training sessions, nutritional education, circuit
training, small group personal training, and educational group meetings
with speakers on topics related to health and nutrition. The data is
being tracked to measure individual improvements. To learn more about
this program contact Marti Peters, Program Director by calling 498-8888
or by email at
Martip@thecommonsclub.com .
NOTE: Bonita Community Health Center is located on the corner of Coconut
Point Road and Rt. 41 in Bonita Springs....stop by for a "tour"....it’s
a wonderful medical center.
ECCL Weighs in on Bonita Springs Ambulance Proposal
As previously reported, on October 25, the Lee
County Board of Commissioners (Board) heard from proponents and
opponents of the Bonita Springs Fire and Rescue Service (BSFD) proposal
to assume responsibility from Lee County
Emergency Medical Services (EMS) for patient
emergency ambulance transportation from Bonita Springs to hospitals. The
EMS is opposed to this proposal.
Because of widely divergent cost estimates and the potential
impact to taxpayers, the Commissioners agreed unanimously to refer the
matter to a Hearing Officer to consider and report back to the Board
with findings and recommendations.
The County and BSFD are expected to participate in selecting the
Hearing Examiner early in 2012.
The
ECCL has not taken a position on this matter at this time because we
believe that the proposal if implemented would not significantly affect
Estero residents, and we believe that both positions have merit.
Nonetheless, we have concerns that we believe should be addressed
by the Hearing Examiner and the Board. So, on November 23, the ECCL,
after approval by its membership, sent a letter to the Commissioners
asking that they consider the following:
1)
Is there evidence that
demonstrates that the 2.5 ambulance shift arrangement currently provided
by EMS for Bonita Springs is not adequate and has resulted in
unfavorable patient outcomes?
2)
Is
there evidence that demonstrates that the typical arrival at an accident
by the EMS ambulance personnel 2.5 minutes after arrival of BSFD
personnel results in the patient leaving for the hospital 2.5 minutes
later than if the patient had been transported by BSFD?
3)
Why
does BSFD intend to purchase only three ambulances “in the beginning” if
they believe they need four ambulances?
4)
Why
wouldn’t any service deficiency be remedied by BSFD if they accepted the
EMS offer to provide Bonita Springs with a three full time ambulance
shift arrangement?
5)
If
the Bonita Springs taxpayers will not have tax increases resulting from
the purchase of $1 million of transportation equipment, then who will
pay for it?
6)
What
does the evidence of other Florida counties indicate? Do centralized
systems like Lee County provide better service at lower cost or do the
other counties with decentralized systems produce better and more
efficient results?
7)
If
BSFD withdraws from the consolidated EMS system, will other fire
districts be given the same option? How will the remaining areas still
served by EMS be affected from both a quality and cost basis?
8)
Is
there evidence to show that dismantling the consolidated EMS service for
all of Lee County will result in better patient care?
9)
What
are the cost ramifications to Lee County taxpayers from dismantling the
consolidated EMS system?
The
ECCL will continue to monitor this issue.
The Estero/Bonita Springs Catalyst Club Program
Moves Ahead
The
current recession has clearly demonstrated the need for southwest
Florida to diversify its economy. Lee County’s Economic Development
Office is committed to a long-term, forward-thinking mission that will
expand and diversify our local economy.
To
accomplish this mission Lee County Economic Development is establishing
a Catalyst Club. The members
of the Catalyst Club will be business executives and professionals who
have retirement homes in the area, are frequent vacationers or have
other kinds of connections to Lee County.
Bonita Springs and Estero are blessed to have many retired execs with
extensive knowledge of their industry and profession, many years of
insightful experience and many valuable relationships with key
decision-makers who can greatly assist the Lee County Economic
Development staff to attract new businesses and grow existing businesses
in southwest Florida.
November Progress
The
Estero Council of Community Leaders (ECCL)
Economic Development
Committee and Lee County Economic Development hosted two “Catalyst Club
Reception” training sessions on November 7th and 14th.
Each Reception was attended by 5 Catalyst Club members from each of
three of our target communities plus some staff members from Lee
County’s Economic Development Office.
The
format of each Reception was a workshop that provided each participant
an opportunity to talk about his or her career, the industry or
industries that they know best and how Lee County’s economy might
benefit from their experience and relationships. This session lasted
about 90 minutes and was followed by a one hour cocktail reception with
hors d’oeuvre. The members enthusiastically enjoyed the opportunity to
participate in these sessions and agreed to help organize more
Receptions in their home communities during the coming spring.
The
time commitment of most Catalyst Club members will be quite limited.
It’s not the members’ time that is needed,
it’s their knowledge, experience
and relationships that are needed.
From
time to time they will be invited to advise the County about business
attraction strategies appropriate for their industry or profession, how
best to work with a prospect in that industry that is considering Lee
County as a site for expansion or to see if the member has some business
relationships that may be useful in attracting a business to the area.
The Estero Economic Development Committee
recognizes the value to the community of working with the County to
develop an effective Catalyst Club. For more information about the
Catalyst Club see the presentation that we saw on May 26th at
http://esterofl.org/eccl/committees/economic-development.htm ,
Lee County Board Redistricting Finalized
On
November 1st the Lee BOCC adopted Map 9 specifying the Lee
county Commission District for the next 10 years. Map 9 was developed by
Lee County Planning staff after extensive consultation with the
residents of the Dunbar community.
Map 9
places all of the Estero Community Planning area into District 3, the
district now represented by Commissioner Ray Judah. In Lee County all
five Commissioners are elected county wide but the Commissioners must
live in the district from which they are elected. Therefore the
significance of the boundaries has less to do with who gets elected but
rather how responsive the elected Commissioner is to unique community
needs. Commissioner Judah and his staff have always been most responsive
to the needs of each of our communities and residents.
Prior
Action
On
October 11th the Lee County Board of Commissioners (BOCC)
discussed the adoption of Map 6 which had been approvingly discussed at
their September 13th meeting. However questions were raised
about the division of the Dunbar community, Lee County’s largely black
community, into two commissioner districts. The rationale for that
division is that the Dunbar community is partly in the City of Fort
Myers with the balance in unincorporated Lee County. After considerable
discussion the Commissioners decided to ask their planning staff to meet
with the proponents of including all of Dunbar in a single district and
to delay a final decision until the Board’s November 1st
meeting.
On
September 13th the Lee County Board of Commissioners held a
second public hearing to discuss the alternative maps for the Commission
districts that, when adopted, would be used in all Commissioner
elections for the next ten years. At their earlier Hearing the
Commissioners chose three of the five staff alternatives for further
consideration. See our
Governance Page
Lee County Population and Taxes:
The Last Decade
Southwest Florida Population Growth
In
spite of the recession that began here in 2006 the population of Florida
still grew by 2.8 million or 17.6% since 2000. Closer to home Lee
County’s population grew by 40%, twice the rate posted by the state and
nearly 50% faster than Collier County. As the following table indicates
Estero’s growth far exceeded all the other jurisdictions including the
City of Bonita Springs. Please note that the census data does not
include the large number of “snowbirds” whose primary residence is up
north.
|
Place
|
2000 Population
|
2010 Population
|
Population
Increase
|
Percent Population Increase
|
|
State of Florida
|
15,982,824
|
18,801,310
|
2,818,486
|
17.6%
|
|
Collier County
|
251,377
|
321,520
|
70,143
|
27.9
|
|
Lee County
|
440,888
|
618,754
|
177,866
|
40.3
|
|
Bonita Springs
|
32,797
|
43,914
|
11,117
|
33.9
|
|
Estero Fire District
|
9,261
|
22,612
|
13,351
|
144.2
|
High
rates of population growth require local governments to retain some, but
not necessarily all, of the available increase in tax revenue that the
population growth produces. The following tables indicate that all the
local governments of Lee County have handled the changing economic
conditions of the last decade better than the governments in other
Florida counties including Collier County’s governments.
As
shown in the following table while Lee County’s growth in property tax
revenues increased 11.5% more than the statewide average during the last
decade, Lee County’s population grew by almost 23% faster than the State
increase, about twice that difference. During the decade Collier
County’s property tax revenue increased by 14% more than Lee County’s
taxes in spite of the fact that Collier’s population growth rate was 12%
slower than Lee County. Thus during the decade the average
Lee County’s taxpayer experienced much smaller increase in property
taxes than the typical Collier County or Florida taxpayer. As a
result Lee County became a more attractive place to retire and do
business than it was 10 years ago.
|
Place
|
Population Growth 2000-2010
|
Property Tax Growth 2000-2010
|
|
State of Florida
|
17.6%
|
67.2%
|
|
Collier County
|
27.9
|
92.8
|
|
Lee County
|
40.3
|
78.7
|
Property Tax Growth since the Recession Started
As
the following table indicates the governments of Lee County managed to
provide their services with much larger reductions in property tax
revenue than Collier County and the State throughout the ongoing
recession. Since 2005 Lee County governments have operated with almost
15% less property tax revenue while the typical Florida County operated
on nearly a constant revenue stream. During the last three years Lee
County governments have survived with almost 35% less property tax
revenue while Collier and the average Florida County operated with a
property tax reduction of only 18%.
|
Place
|
2005-2010
|
2007-2010
|
|
State of Florida
|
-0.48%
|
-17.56%
|
|
Collier County
|
-4.69
|
-18.54
|
|
Lee County
|
-14.84
|
-34.13
|
2010
Lee County Government Taxes General Fund Taxes
As an
unincorporated community, Estero gets most of its governmental services
from Lee County. The Lee County property tax base has contracted by over
one-third since 2007. Fortunately the County had prudently expanded its
reserves during the first half of the decade when the county was growing
rapidly and has since been able to continue to provide a decent level of
services without raising its property tax rate. Lee County’s 2010
property tax rate of 4.1506 mills ranks 58th among Florida’s
67 counties. This rate is 17% below the average tax rate for all of
Florida’s 67 counties in spite of Lee County being only one of nine
Florida counties that does not impose a sales tax. Forty eight of
Florida’s 67 counties impose a local sales tax of 1% or more.
Transportation Taxes
Lee
County’s transportation taxes are the primary source of revenue for the
construction and maintenance of all county roads, roadway landscaping,
transit operations and sidewalks, bikeways etc. These activities are
largely financed by local option fuel taxes and transportation impact
fees.
Lee
County is one of 20 counties that impose the maximum 12 cent per gallon
local option gas tax. In addition Lee County’s Road Impact Fees
generated $43.22 per county resident in 2009, about 82% higher than the
statewide average for all 67 counties.
In
spite of these higher than average rates Lee County has seen its
transportation funds decline dramatically in recent years due to the
sharp decline in real estate development since 2005 and the slowdown in
gasoline taxes due to higher gasoline prices and increases in fuel
efficiency.
Sources: Bureau of Business and Economic Research, University of Florida
and Florida Department of Revenue and Florida Tax Watch.
Roadway and Roadway Landscaping Improvements Now Underway
Median Landscaping to Begin Soon on Three
Oaks Parkway and the Estero Parkway Flyover
During August the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) approve a
contract for $623,765 for landscaping Three Oaks Parkway from Corkscrew
Road to Alico Road, less than half that had been budgeted for the
project. The County’s Contract department has finalized the contact on
this project and the County set the Notice to Proceed date as September
21, 2011. Installation of the irrigation for the project should be
underway shortly.
On
September 27th the BOCC approved a contract for about
$305,000 for landscaping the road segment along Estero Parkway from
Three Oaks to Ben Hill Griffin Parkway, about $25,000 less than the
budget for this segment. The County has set the Notice to Proceed Date
for this project for January 3, 2012. After that date the County has 30
days to review the specific irrigation components and trees as submitted
by the contractor prior to the commencement of construction.
Corkscrew Three Oaks Intersection Improvements Completed
The
intersection at Corkscrew Road and Three Oaks Parkway has now been
completed. This project added a right turn lane for southbound traffic
on Three Oaks. In addition new bike lane markings were added through the
intersection along with some Americans for Disabilities Act changes to
make the intersection better accommodate the handicapped.
East Corkscrew Road Safety Improvements
Corkscrew Road east of Grand Oakes
shopping center, is basically a relatively busy two lane road leading to
community living centers such as Savona, Wildcat Run, Bella Terra, and
includes the Pinewoods School, fire station and water treatment plant..
Access to these destinations, when originally built, was very dangerous
having very limited ingress and egress and access onto Corkscrew Road.
The improvements now being completed,
and hopefully finished by January 31, 2012,
will provide better access to Grand Oakes shopping center, and
widening the road at the entrances to Savona, Wildcat Run and Bella
Terra so that medium dividers can be installed. This will allow
traffic to cross to a point in which a driver can to see if there is any
traffic coming each way, before entering or exiting those communities.
A sidewalk from Stoneybrook entrance to the road entering into Pinewoods
School is also being installed. Finally the road will be paved after
these improvements have been completed.
US 41
Widening from Corkscrew North to San Carlos Park
Late in 2010 the Florida
Department of Transportation (FDOT) awarded the contract for widening US
41 from Corkscrew Road to San Carlos Park to Russell Engineering of Fort
Lauderdale. This six-laning project started on January 15, 2011
and is projected to be completed in mid 2013.
Estero’s October Housing Permits Show Increase
During October, twenty-one
single family homes with a combined building
value of $3.7 million were permitted in Estero. This month’s total
represents the second best month this year.
It is 20% ahead of the monthly average for the year, and, on a
year-to-date basis, the $33.3 million shown below is slightly ahead of
last year’s pace through October.
Of course, the figures are still well below the 2000-2007
periods.
About half of the permits last month were granted
to Lennar’s Bella Terra development. Of the single family homes
permitted this year, over 93% were for Bella Terra, and the two Toll
Brothers’ developments, Belle Lago and The Reserve of Estero.
The following table compares year-to-date figures
through October with those of the prior eleven years,
|
Year
|
Annual Total Housing Units
|
Building Value of Units
|
Average Building Value Per Unit
|
Percentage of Single Family Units
|
|
2000
|
1,861
|
$259,965,981
|
$139,692
|
41%
|
|
2001
|
1,863
|
284,286,846
|
152,963
|
47
|
|
2002
|
1,355
|
251,080,157
|
185,299
|
51
|
|
2003
|
1,304
|
206,336,314
|
158,233
|
44
|
|
2004
|
1,393
|
307,246,114
|
220,564
|
63
|
|
2005
|
2,561
|
572,711,293
|
223,628
|
48
|
|
2006
|
1,235
|
320,509,719
|
259,522
|
38
|
|
2007
|
416
|
116,889,675
|
280,985
|
36
|
|
2008
|
143
|
48,334,352
|
338,002
|
80
|
|
2009
|
137
|
42,671,061
|
311,468
|
78
|
|
2010
|
166
|
32,951,160
|
198,501
|
78
|
|
2011
|
165
|
33,284,034
|
201,721
|
84
|
Estero’s October Commercial Permits Remain Sluggish
During October, permits totaling $700,000 were
issued for Estero
commercial buildings. Although this represents another sluggish monthly
result, the 2011 year-to-date figure shown below is about 50% ahead of
last year, due primarily to three permits issued earlier this year: $2.1
million for Cayo de Estero on US 41 near Estero Pkwy., $1.0 million for
the Olive Garden restaurant in Coconut Point and $1.2 million for the
Blue Cross Blue Shield service center also in Coconut Point. Aside from
those three permits, total activity this year has been extremely
sluggish.
As shown in the following table, Estero’s
commercial development peaked in 2006 with a total of $185 million.
Since then, total commercial investment in Estero has fallen
precipitously and has remained low for several years.
|
Year
|
Year-to-Date
|
Annual Total
|
|
2000
|
$74,191,144
|
$77,250,835
|
|
2001
|
36,770,251
|
44,116,526
|
|
2002
|
21,575,789
|
23,135,139
|
|
2003
|
17,809,178
|
23,234,725
|
|
2004
|
40,832,565
|
60,859,820
|
|
2005
|
71,014,931
|
111,037,977
|
|
2006
|
177,322,397
|
184,709.240
|
|
2007
|
152,471,225
|
157,614,045
|
|
2008
|
38,454,732
|
39,261,677
|
|
2009
|
9,250,703
|
9,752,556
|
|
2010
|
7,275,517
|
9,322,546
|
|
2011
|
11,101,724
|
?
|
The major projects permitted so far this year are:
$2,052,000 for
Cayo de Estero,
$1,200,000 for the
Blue Cross Blue Shield service center in Coconut
Point,
$1,000,000 for the
Olive Garden restaurant in Coconut Point, and
$ 952,000 for
Meadows of Estero.
Note: The building values above understate the cost
of each residence or commercial building because they exclude the value
of the underlying land.
The County permit information used in this report
may be found at
http://www.lee-county.com/dcd/Reports/EsteroReports.htm
November Estero Single Family Home Sales Continue
Soft
Multiple Listing Service (MLS) figures indicate that twenty-one single
family homes sold in November, which is two less than November a year
ago, but five more than last month. As shown below, so far in 2011,
year-to-date sales are virtually even with a year ago.
|
|
HOMES
|
|
HOMES
|
%
|
|
2010
|
SOLD
|
2011
|
SOLD
|
INC. –DEC.
|
|
QUARTER 4
|
|
|
|
|
|
OCTOBER
|
27
|
OCTOBER
|
16
|
-40%
|
|
NOVEMBER
|
23
|
NOVEMBER
|
21
|
-9%
|
|
DECEMBER
|
24
|
DECEMBER
|
|
|
|
TOTAL QTR
|
74
|
TOTAL QTR
|
|
|
|
YEAR TO DATE
|
|
|
|
|
|
QTR 1
|
93
|
QTR 1
|
107
|
15%
|
|
QTR 2
|
130
|
QTR 2
|
105
|
-19%
|
|
QTR 3
|
58
|
QTR 3
|
81
|
40%
|
|
OCT/NOV
|
50
|
OCT/NOV
|
37
|
-26%
|
|
TOTAL YTD
|
308
|
TOTAL YTD
|
309
|
-%
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
QTR 4
|
74
|
QTR 4
|
|
|
|
TOTAL YEAR
|
355
|
TOTAL YEAR
|
|
|
As of
November 30, there were 368 listings of currently active unsold homes in
Estero. This is up 6% from last
month, presumably as more potential sellers anticipate an increase in
buyer interest during the winter season.
The 368 figure is 69 units less than on May 30, 2011 when the ECCL began
capturing these numbers.
Of
the 368 active listings, about 7% represent “distressed sales,” i.e.,
short-sale listings or bank owned properties which, in each case, the
bank is expected to receive less than its loan amount.
Active listings of distressed sale properties have declined
significantly in the last several months.
Based
on sales in the last year, 368 active listings represent a thirteen
month supply of unsold homes, compared with an eleven month supply in
the last two months. A six
month supply usually indicates a good market.
While comparable figures are not available for last year, we
believe that the current inventory and months of supply figures are
significantly better than a year ago.
Thanks to Joe Pavich, Sr. of Realty World in Estero for compiling these
figures for the ECCL.
Note:
These amounts include most of Estero, but do not include the Estero
portion of Pelican Landing, which is not separately listed in the MLS.
Also, none of the above amounts include listings of multi-family
homes.
|