Public Hearing
Coconut Point Residences
The meeting started with a public hearing for the development order for PAC Estero Apartments, LLC to redevelop a portion of the existing Brooks Town Center into a 4-story, 137-unit residential apartment complex on 5.33 acres of the total project site of 9.95 acres. The project is located at the northwest corner of Coconut Road and Three Oaks Parkway.
When Lee County approved The Brooks rezoning and Development of Regional Impact in 1997, there was an array of various uses allowed. The 9.95-acre site that is the subject of this development order was developed as a shopping plaza with a Sweetbay grocery store which later became Winn Dixie. The applicant plans to demolish the vacant Winn Dixie building to develop the apartments.
The project will include the four-story building with balconies, garage, carport and surface parking. They plan to have a dog park, pool and internal courtyard area with outdoor kitchen and dining area. Rentals are expected to start at $2,500 to $5,000.
The applicant is planning to repaint the shopping center buildings to be consistent with the color scheme for the multifamily building which will be shades of cream, natural and brown with blue Sunbrella shutters. They will be retaining and supplementing the existing landscape buffers along Three Oaks Parkway and Coconut Road and will add some decorative wall elements and benches for visual appeal. Adjacent to the building there will be perimeter plantings and some taller palms to break up the building massing.
Public Comment: 8 eComment cards and a petition signed by 2400 residents was placed into the record. Eleven residents spoke of their concerns regarding this proposal.
The Board voted to approve this development order and monument sign design with conditions.
Public Information Meetings
Walmart expansion
The applicant is seeking to add a 5,800 square foot addition to the existing Walmart building at 19975 S. Tamiami Trail to accommodate storage for online grocery pickup orders. This would require a reconfiguration of the parking area in order to accommodate the new structure including converting some standard spaces into more pickup spaces, and restriping and seal coating the parking lot.
No voting occurs during public information meetings.
Southwest Florida Church of Christ
Southwest Florida Church of Christ
The applicant is seeking a special exemption to allow a religious facility/place of worship and daycare in the agricultural zoning district within the Village. They are proposing a 12,000 square foot, single-story building with 249 seats in the sanctuary, and allowing for 171 children in a daycare setting from 6:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
The proposed location is a 2.18-acre vacant parcel at the southwest corner of Sandy Lane and Broadway Avenue East.
Public Comment: 3 residents spoke of their concerns pertaining to this project.
No voting occurs during public information meetings.
Workshop
Hilton Garden Inn
Hilton Garden Inn
The applicant is proposing a 70,800 square foot, 5 story tall building with 115 guest rooms. The amenities will include a fitness center, meeting rooms, pool with patio, casual dining, bar with outdoor lounge, port cochere and public bike racks.
The location is a vacant parcel at the southwest corner of Via Villagio and Sweetwater Ranch Blvd., adjacent to the Estero Fire Station.
The Village Council approved this hotel use and deviations for the building height and architectural features in 2018. The application was put on hold due to COVID.
No voting occurs during workshops.
Public comment on non-agenda items: One resident spoke of a concern.
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., November 14, 2023.