AT&T Cell Tower and Market Place at Coconut Point among presenters to the Planning, Zoning & Design Board on November 8, 2022
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 [...]
“It takes a village…” and with the help of many local organizations, the Village is helping residents recover after Hurricane Ian
There has been a lot of publicity about local communities destroyed by Hurricane Ian, but many people don’t realize there are communities within our own Village of Estero that were devastated following the hurricane. Approximately 1,000 homes were drastically affected. Those communities west of US 41 were hit the hardest, in particular those living along West Broadway. These mobile home communities* have been home to residents for many years and some have lost everything – their cars, their household furnishings, clothing and precious keepsakes. Immediately following the hurricane, Village staff spent days traveling throughout Estero assessing the damage that occurred [...]
Flood Insurance Rate Maps, Coconut Trace, Pelican Sound and Genova among topics addressed by Council on November 2, 2022
Public Comment on non-agenda items: George Zaluki, Chair, Board of Directors, Estero Forever Foundation (EFF), gave an update on the Foundation’s Hurricane Ian relief fund. To date, about $91,000 has been donated by Estero residents, churches and businesses. All monies will go to Estero residents who were drastically affected by the hurricane, primarily those residents along West Broadway. The EFF is partnered with the Village of Estero, the ECCL and the Greater Estero Chamber of Commerce in this relief effort. It’s easy to donate. Go to the Foundation’s website where you may donate online or get information on how to [...]
Hurricane Ian’s impact among topics addressed by Council on October 19, 2022
Mayor Katy Errington told a large group of residents from The Vines that the Metropolitan Planning Organization’s (MPO) Rail Trail Feasibility Study was not on the agenda but they were welcome to speak. Public Comment on non-agenda items: 3 residents representing The Vines spoke of their community’s concerns regarding two of the three proposed paths of the Rail Trail Feasibility Study. They stated that two of the proposed paths would traverse their community and would create safety issues as well as devalue their properties. Public Works Director David Willems explained that the findings of this study are to be discussed [...]
Lee County closing existing inland food and water Points of Distribution
Lee County is closing the remaining food and water Points of Distribution (PODs) as water and power are restored, businesses reopen, and nonprofits reopen, making additional food and meals available. The county will close PODS at 5 p.m. today at the following locations: Old Bonita Library, 26876 Pine Ave, Bonita Springs Cape Coral Leonard Street, 4820 Leonard St, Cape Coral Estero High School Ballfield Park, 9100 Williams Road, Estero North Fort Myers Recreation Center, 2000 N. Recreation Park Way, North Fort Myers Fleamasters Fleamarket, 4135 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd, Fort Myers Veterans Park Recreation Center, 55 Homestead Road [...]
Boil Water Notice lifted for the majority of Lee County Utilities service area; Town & River, North Trail RV, and Siesta Isles should continue to boil water
Lee County Utilities has rescinded a precautionary Boil Water Notice for 99% of the Lee County Utilities service area. Lee County Utilities provides services to more than 97,000 water connections, and less than 1% will remain on a boil water notice. A Boil Water Notice remains in place for (maps available at leegov.com/storm): Town & River neighborhood, at McGregor and Cypress Lake Drive North Trail RV along Old Orange River Blvd. All of Siesta Isles, which includes Siesta Drive, Cutlass Drive, Deep Passage Lane, and Old Pelican Bay Drive. In the remainder of the Lee County Utilities service area, bacterial [...]
Make sure you’re ready to safely receive power
To speed up restoration of power, FPL has provided this explanation of what homeowner's must do to prepare their home to receive power again.
Village online emergency permitting now operational
The Village of Estero is now open for business with online permitting available. We have instituted emergency permitting. See below. Building repairs not requiring a permit: Screen replacement (structural components of the lanai require a permit). If the lanai includes a pool, a barrier such as a temporary fence should be installed to prevent outside access for safety purposes. Window glass or door glass replacement (glass only). Entire windows or door frames require a permit. Building repairs requiring a permit: Roof repairs Drywall replacement over 100 sq. ft. All structural components Fence replacement Lanai, door, window (except as detailed above) For all work [...]
Estero’s tax rate reduced by Council at their meeting on September 21, 2022
Public Budget Hearings Resolution 2022-27 – final millage rate Council approved this resolution adopting the ad valorem taxes for Fiscal Year 2022-2023 at a millage rate of 0.75 mills, which is a reduction from the prior year’s rate of 0.77. Council has voted to reduce the tax rate every year except the first year following incorporation and in 2020 due to COVID. Estero’s tax rate is the lowest in the region. Here is the resolution. Resolution 2022-28 – Fiscal Year 2022-2023 Budget Council approved this resolution adopting the budget for FY 2022-2023 at a total of $42,508,620. The Fiscal Year [...]
Council declares a state of local emergency at a special meeting on September 27, 2022
As weather predictions determined the risk of dangerous storm conditions related to Hurricane Ian, Council met to declare a state of local emergency to provide for emergency governmental operations. The Village of Estero’s charter assigns Council, the Village Manager and staff the duties of leadership during storm events. However, since there may be instances when it is unsafe or impossible to obtain a Council quorum to convene emergency meetings during a state of local emergency, Council adopted Resolution 2022-30 delegating Village Manager Steve Sarkozy all powers available to Village government provided in Chapter 252, Florida Statutes, or the Executive Orders [...]