Minutes of
Public Meeting #89

July 9, 2007
Estero Community Park, Estero, Florida

Panel Members Present:

ECPP Chairman Neal Noethlich, ECCL; John Goodrich, Estero Council of Community Leaders; Lin Welch, Estero Chamber of Commerce; Greg Toth, Estero Development Community; Dan Delisi, Estero Development Community; Frann Wagner, Treasurer, ECA; Recording Secretary, Bill Brown, ECCL. Noethlich welcomed John Goodrich to the Panel as the new member representing the Council of Community Leaders replacing Don Eslick. He thanked Eslick for his leadership and noted that he had resigned from the Panel in order to have time to serve as Chairman of the Lee County Charter Review Committee.

Public Participation:

24 participants were present including 13 members of the general public. Brown reported that there was a display ad in the Bonita Banner on July 4. The notice was in the Estero section of the News-Press Web page, our joint Web Page – EsteroFL.org and the Wink Web page calendar. There were stories in the Naples Daily News on July 6 and the News-Press on July 8. The notice was posted in the Library, Realty World and the Wachovia and Colonial Banks.
Secretary’s Report: Welch: Motion to accept May 9th Meeting Minutes. Toth: Second. Minutes accepted unanimously.

Treasurer’s Report:

Treasurer Wagner reported a June 11 balance: $4258.18 and July 9 balance: $4078.78. Goodrich: Motion to accept Treasurer’s Report. Delisi Second. Minutes accepted unanimously.

Presentations:

Update on North and South Villages of Coconut Point and the Art District at Rapallo

Ned Dewhirst, Oakbrook Properties and Jim Wallace, Rapallo. Dewhirst reported that a hearing is scheduled on July 26 by the County Hearing Examiner on zoning amendments for the North and South village of Coconut Point. The amendments for the North village will reduce the proposed commercial/retail and increase residential building. It adds a hotel to the uses and removes fast food. Wallace has applied for a development order along with the zoning amendments which have been approved by the Regional Planning Council. The proposed amendments for the South Village provide for more office and less retail and includes a mini-storage facility. Lee Memorial Hospital owns 32 acres of this area.

Wallace described plans for the Art District: it will have 3 pedestrian gates and walkways, a mix of residential, retail and an outdoor stage for 300 people as part of the Performing Arts Center with seats for 500 which is meant to be a community theatre serving primarily Estero, San Carlos Park and Bonita Springs. County approval of Shared Parking with retail stores is being requested. Noethlich asked about funding for the Community Theater. Wallace indicated that he and his wife are putting 80% of the front money, but $10,000,000 of endowment funds will be needed from the community for the theatre to avoid scrimping in five years. Wallace asked that Chip Block be contacted at the Lee County Zoning Department in support of their application DC12006-0080 and DR12006-0009.

ECPP:

The proposals presented by Dewhirst and Wallace were favorably received by the Panel which has no objection to the proposed amendments and believes that the community will agree. Noethlich will testify at the hearing by the Hearing Examiner on the 26th. Delisi also plans to testify in support of the project.

Noethlich announced that the Smart Growth Committee will meet on July 18 and will make plans for a DR/GR Stakeholders Meeting in Estero on July 25th. The hearing Examiner has scheduled hearings on the Estero Group Mine application for July 18,19,20,24 and 25.

It was agreed that Goodrich will take the leadership on organizing a subcommittee on updating the Estero 5 Year Plan. The subcommittee will include developers and Estero citizens. Goodrich will submit a mission statement and outline the makeup of the subcommittee within the next two weeks.

Jack Lienesch was elected Vice Chairman of the Panel to replace Don Eslick.

The Panel adjourned at 8:05 PM.

NEXT REGULAR MEETING: 6 PM, MONDAY,AUGUST 13th, ESTERO COMMUNITY PARK.