Minutes of
Public Meeting # 75

May 8, 2006
Marsh Landing Clubhouse, Estero, Florida

Panel Members Present

Neal Noethlich, Chairman; Don Eslick, Estero Council of Community Leaders; Mike Cato, Estero Fire Rescue; Jack Lienesch, Estero Civic Association; Carl Barraco, Estero Chamber of Commerce; Greg Toth , Estero Development Community;. Dan DeLisi, Estero Development Community. Treasurer: Fran Wagner, ECA. Recording Secretary: Jim Ramsburg, ECCL.

Noethlich called the meeting to order at 6:01PM.

Public Participation: Forty-eight participants were present including 39 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, news-press.com, the esterofl.org Web site of the ECCL/ECPP/ECA/EDRC and on the Web site of Estero Fire Rescue. A paid advertising notice of the meeting was placed in the Bonita Banner of May 3. Meeting notices were posted in Lee County South Regional Library, Colonial Bank and the Estero office of Realty World.

Treasurer’s Report

Wagner reported a current balance of $6,478.49 in the Community Planning Panel account on deposit at the Colonial Bank in Estero. Toth: Motion to accept Eslick: Second. Report accepted unanimously.

Secretary’s Report:

Noethlich distributed minutes of the April meeting. Lienesch: Motion to accept minutes. Eslick: Second. Minutes accepted unanimously.

Notice of Proposed Change:

Zoning Amendment to Coconut Point: Ned Dewhirst of Oakbrook Properties informed of a minor revision proposal pending in the development’s southern third, south of Coconut Road. He said that details with potential occupants are being finalized to determine the final space proposed for office, retail and possibly hotel.

Dewhirst said a change of greater impact will be proposed for Coconut Point’s northern third, bordering Williams Road, occupied by the Rapallo residential community. Dewhirst reported that a residential element will be proposed for the tracts bordering US 41 and Williams Road. He said the most important element of this change will be the tract along one half mile of US 41, the corner of US 41 and Williams Road and one quarter mile of Williams Road. It has been approved for 280,000 sq ft of retail and 40,000 sq ft of office. Dewhirst said the proposed change will add approximately 300 multi-family residential units to the tract, lower the retail space to 80,000 sq ft and add an 18,600 sq ft, 460 seat performing arts center. Dewhirst introduced Rapallo developer Jim Wallace for a detailed presentation of the area, tentatively known as “The Art District at Rapallo.”

Wallace described the area as an Urban Village Lifestyle and presented preliminary renderings of the concept which involves a number of two and three story buildings that involve the True Mixed Use proposal of first floor retail/commercial businesses and residences in the upper stories of the same structures which would feature courtyards, terraces and hidden parking within the buildings. Wallace elaborated on the area’s arts related possibilities and potential but stressed that planning is still in the preliminary stage. Dewhirst added that all plans are contingent on Lee County agreeing to the concept’s definition of True Mixed Use.

Reaction from the Panel and general public were highly favorable. DeLisi commented that the plan, “Has raised the bar for all developers in Estero.”

Suggested Amendment to Estero Community Plan

Florida Gulf Coast University Associate Professor of Art Patricia Fay conducted a short presentation outlining the current and potential situations that promise to elevate Estero’s prominence in the southwest Florida arts community. She concluded her presentation by requesting an amendment to the Estero Community Plan that would further foster arts. The Panel accepted this request for further investigation as to its appropriateness in the plan.

See a PDF of this presentation.

David Graham Award for Excellence in Planning, Design & Construction

Lienesch and Baracco reported meeting with with Bill Prysi and Joe McHarris of the Estero Design Review Committee to arrive at criteria for the award and the application procedure involved. The Panel advised them to make the criteria and the application process as simple as possible.

Toth: Motion to adjourn. Eslick: Second. Motion passed unanimously. Meeting adjourned at 7:48 PM.

NEXT MEETING: 6 PM, MONDAY, JUNE 12th, MARSH LANDING CLUBHOUSE