Action Items

Corkscrew Road River Creek sidewalk agreement


River Creek

Council approved a sidewalk easement agreement with GL Homes to obtain an easement for the meandering path along the River Creek Community on Corkscrew Road.  They agreed to reimburse GL Homes $104,994.23, with a contingency of $10,000, once the developer builds the asphalt path.

This agreement provides the Village pathway easement for the proposed 10-ft wide path on the south side of Corkscrew Road and the River Creek frontage.  The Village is designing the 10-ft wide path to extend to the east property line of Bella Terra.

 

Ordinance 2024-03 – code enforcement procedures

Village Attorney Robert Eschenfelder reviewed the Village’s code enforcement code and drafted Ordinance 2024-03 recommending revisions to the current code.

Council passed the first reading of this ordinance which reflects the Village Attorney’s recommended revisions.  A second reading and public hearing is scheduled for March 6, 2024.

Workshop

Bonita-Estero Rail Trail (BERT)

The Trust for Public Lands has secured a purchase and sale agreement for the 14.9-mile segment of the Seminole Rail line from Alico Road to Wiggins Pass Road in Naples for $82 million.

This project was identified in the Village’s Parks and Open Space Master Plan and the Bike and Pedestrian Master Plan, and the Village, City of Bonita Springs, Lee County and Collier County attempted to negotiate a purchase several years ago without success.

This is the first step.  The Village and the region have not resolved if this project can be afforded or how it would be financed at this time. Considerable work will need to be done to evaluate options for financing and who will pay.

Deb Orton, president of Friends of BERT, spoke of this organization with 3200 members who are supporting efforts to pursue grants in support this project.  The plan would be to remove the tracks and replace them with a 12 ft. asphalt trail.

Orton stated that the path would connect to the John Yarborough Trail, providing 42 miles of pathway in Lee County.  She also pointed out that the path would be close to 11 schools as well as within a 10-minute walk/bike ride for 70,000 people.

Public Comment: 7 eComment cards were placed into the record and 3 residents from The Vines spoke of their safety and security concerns regarding the alignment of the path through their property.

No voting occurs during workshops.

Residents may view the archived meeting by going to the Village website.

The next Council meeting will be held at 9:30 a.m., Wednesday, March 6, 2024.