Estero Community Planning Panel

Minutes of Public Meeting #97 - March 10, 2008
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'Day, ECCL; Dan DeLisi, Estero Development Community. Recording Secretary: Jim Ramsburg, ECCL; Treasurer: Beverly MacNellis, ECCL. Absent: Lin Welch, Estero Chamber of Commerce.

Lienesch called the meeting to order at 6:00 PM.

Public Participation:

Seventeen participants were present including ten members of the general public. Ramsburg reported that public notices of the meeting were published 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 and Estero Fire Rescue. A paid advertising notice of the meeting was placed in the Bonita Banner of March 9th.  Notices of the meeting were posted in the South Regional Library, Colonial Bank, Estero Community Park and Realty World of Estero.

Secretary's Report:

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

Treasurer's Report:

MacNellis reported a current balance of $1,517.25 in the Community Planning Panel account on deposit at Colonial Bank in Estero. O'Day: Motion to accept Toth: Second. Report accepted unanimously. Lienesch reported that he and Don Eslick of the ECCL met with Tom Schreck of the Bonita Springs Community Foundation regarding funding of the ECPP. The meeting resulted in no action. DeLisi outlined the ways that donations to support the ECPP could have tax deductible status. Toth said that Panel funding should be the responsibility of Lee County. O'Day reported meeting with Lee Commissioner Ray Judah and outlining the problem. Judah said he would investigate the situation and respond to Panel Chairman Neal Noethlich. O'Day added that the Panel should continue to pursue this avenue of funding. Lienesch said that he would communicate with Judah.

Discussion followed regarding the possibility of charging fees from developers presenting proposals to the Estero community through ECPP public meetings.  MacNellis provided a recap of the Panel's operating expenses.

Developer Presentations:

No developer presentations were scheduled.

I-75 Widening Public Meeting:

Lienesch announced a joint public meeting of the ECPP and the Estero Design Review Committee in which Florida Department of Transportation officials would outline plans for the widening of I-75 north of Corkscrew Road and how the project would affect the buffering between the roadway and Germain Arena on the road's east side and the Villagio residential community on its west side. The meeting will be held at 5 PM on Wednesday, March 12, in the Estero Community Park Building. 

Signage Issues:

Goodrich reported creation of a photo album of signage in the Estero Community Planning area to illustrate examples of what could be considered permissible and/or objectionable signage in the community. A committee would then meet with County Staff to determine its interpretation of current codes applied to these examples. A public workshop would follow this meeting to obtain opinions and suggestions from stakeholders. O'Day offered further details of the plan. Means would be explored to fund legal assistance in the preparation of proposed new signage codes applicable to Estero. DeLisi commented that attorney Neale Montgomery has performed a limited degree of preparatory pro bono work at his request. Toth added that tighter enforcement of existing codes is also needed.

Panel Meeting Dates:

Lienesch proposed that Panel meetings be moved to the third Monday of each month. No objection was offered. The calendar of coming meetings was announced as April 21, May 19 and June 16.

David Graham Award:

Lienesch reported that three organizations agreed to be nominated for the 2008 award. Five nominees have been entered. Deadline for nominations is April 1.

Membership:

Lienesch reported a small meeting of Panel and ECCL officers to identify potential ECPP and EDRC members. He said that he and Chairman Noethlich have discussed Noethlich's retiring from the Panel and assuming a support position.

Goodrich Letter:

Goodrich asked for comment regarding a draft of his letter, written on behalf of the Panel, to Lee County Director of Community Development, Mary Gibbs concerning Mid Towne Estero, MPD. The letter expresses the Panel's negative reaction to the applicant's recent rezoning proposal and how it represents major change from earlier proposals for the nine acre tract located on the southwest corner of Three Oaks Parkway and Corkscrew Road in Estero. DeLisi complimented Goodrich on the letter and suggested several changes in its verbiage.

Goodrich: Motion to adjourn. Toth: Second. Motion passed unanimously. Meeting adjourned at 7:12 PM.  

NEXT MEETING: 6:00 PM, MONDAY, APRIL 21ST, ESTERO COMMUNITY PARK.