At the start of the meeting, it was announced that the Board’s vice-chair Marlene Naratil has submitted her letter of resignation from the Board. Her home was devastated by Hurricane Ian, so she is moving from Estero.
Public Hearings
AT&T monopole location
The first public hearing addressed a special exception to allow a 100-foot-tall AT&T wireless telecommunications facility on the Bonita Springs-Estero Elks Lodge property at 3231 Coconut Road.
The applicant had revised their original application from 149 feet to a 99-foot monopole with a 1-foot lightning rod for a total height of 100 feet. Space will be made available on the monopole for two other providers. They stated the tower is needed to provide capacity and coverage for this area.
The facility will include the monopole with antennas, a 20 x 15-foot area for a generator, and equipment shelter for each antenna array, all of which will be enclosed by an eight-foot wooden fence surrounded by a ten-foot-wide landscape buffer. In addition, this tower will have FirstNet which is a network service for first responders. It will not be lighted at night.
Public Comment: 2 eComment cards were received, 6 residents spoke in favor of this request, 2 residents spoke against and stated that a petition signed by 66 residents were opposed, and the applicant provided a petition in favor of the tower signed by 164 residents.
The Board voted to approve this application for a 100-foot-tall tower with conditions.
Marketplace at Coconut Point
The applicant was requesting approval of a development order for approximately 43,000 square feet in 5 commercial buildings with associated parking, landscaping, and stormwater management.
The five buildings include a McDonald’s with a two-lane drive thru, Miller’s Ale House restaurant, and three separate retail buildings. Hours of operation for the drive-thru will be 5 a.m. to 11 p.m., Sunday through Thursday, and 5 a.m. to 1 a.m., Friday and Saturday. Hours of operation for the full-service restaurant will be 5 a.m. to 12 a.m., Sunday through Thursday, and 5 a.m. to 1 a.m., Friday and Saturday. The architecture is consistent with the Coconut Point “beauty book” which governs the style, color and use of tile roofs used throughout the development.
The applicant stated they moved the project, including the drive-thru, close to US 41 in consideration of the residents of Rapallo. There will be a raised landscape berm around the entire site, which will include 277 full-size trees as well as 1335 shrubs and ground cover. The majority of landscaping will be native plants.
The total project is 9.61 acres bounded by Via Rapallo Drive to the north, US 41 to the west, Rapallo condominiums and Via Villagio to the east, and Sweetwater Ranch Blvd. to the south.
Public Comment: 10 Rapallo residents spoke in opposition to this application and presented a petition signed by 798 residents.
The Board voted to approve this application with conditions.
Rivercreek Phase 2 of the Corkscrew Crossing
The applicant was requesting approval of a development order for Phase 2 of the Corkscrew Crossing development which consists of 213 lots at the north end of the site and immediately south of Phase One.
Corkscrew Crossing is proposed as a residential community with a total of 554 single family homes, gatehouse, and a common recreation area. The total project area is 395 acre and is located at 12840 Corkscrew Road between Wildcat Run and The Preserve at Corkscrew. They plan an enhanced landscape buffer adjacent to Wildcat Run.
The Board voted to approve this application.
Workshop
Culvers at Coconut Point
Culver’s is planning to construct a 4,000 sq. ft. fast food restaurant at 8400 Murano Del Lago Drive off of Pelican Colony Blvd., and north of the Extra Space Storage.
They are proposing a building with a seating capacity for 59 patrons and drive-thru, a hip roof with towers, clay tile roof and horizontal banding along the entire building. They have added two pedestrian connections going through the site, added 10 -15 feet of buffer adjacent to the dumpster enclosure and a canopy over the outdoor seating area.
No voting occurs during workshops.
Residents may view the archived meeting by going to the Village website https://estero-fl.gov/agendas/
The next Planning Zoning & Design Board meeting will be held at 4:30 p.m., December 13, 2022.