Council reviewed Comprehensive Plan’s Housing and Infrastructure elements during November 29, 2017, workshop
Mary Gibbs, Community Development Director, initiated the workshop by stating the Comprehensive Plan must be transmitted to the state in early January and is expected to be adopted sometime in late March 2018. Ben Smith, LaRue Planning and Management Services, reviewed the major objectives of the Housing element which include protecting neighborhood integrity and compatibility, recognition of historic housing and sustaining the current affordable housing in Estero. Another objective is aging and special needs population, and Smith noted that Estero has a higher population of elderly than many other communities so this is an important objective. (Presentation) Laura DeJohn, Johnson [...]
Ban on medical marijuana dispensaries and Estero Parkway among topics discussed at the Council meeting November 15, 2017
Resolution 2017-31 This resolution was adopted as part of the Consent Agenda. It supports the designation of the Coach Jeff Sommer Memorial Highway on U.S. 41 from the north to southern boundaries of the Village of Estero. (Resolution 2017-31) Ordinance 2nd Reading and Public Hearing – Ordinance 2017-10 Council voted to adopt this ordinance to prohibit medical marijuana facilities within the boundaries of the Village. (Ordinance 2017-10) It was noted that the state legislature will address additional regulations on medical marijuana dispensaries during the 2018 legislative session. Currently, the only options the state has permitted is to either ban dispensaries [...]
Council moves ban on medical marijuana facilities to 2nd reading and conducted Comprehensive Plan workshop on November 1, 2017
Introduction – FGCU President Martin Village Councilmembers, left to right: Howard Levitan, Mayor Jim Boesch, Jon McLain, Dr. Michael Martin, Vice-Mayor Bill Ribble, Katy Errington, Nick Batos and Jim Wilson. Dr. Michael Martin, President of Florida Gulf Coast University, gave a short description of his role and goals for the university at the beginning of this meeting. One of the goals is that the graduate degrees are geared to allowing graduates to work and live in this area. He agreed that “water issues” is one of the areas where the Village and university can work together. Dr. [...]
Park Place of Estero approved with conditions and Comprehensive Plan workshop conducted at the Council meeting on October 25, 2017
Public Hearing – Ordinance 2017-09 – Park Place of Estero This was a second reading and public hearing for Ordinance 2017-09, an amendment allowing a reconfiguration of the Master Concept Plan for the 5 acre-property located at 9400 Block Lane. Park Place of Estero will be reducing the number of lots on their property from 26 to 16 single family lots. They plan to build one story, 3,500 square foot semi-custom single family homes with either an extended lanai or a three car garage. Among the conditions for approval is the addition of sidewalks on both sides of the street [...]
Council approved bonus density fee, amendment to Stormwater Master Plan contract, and conducted several workshops at their meeting October 18, 2017
Action Item – Resolution No. 2017-19 Council voted to adopt this resolution establishing a fee of $20,000 per unit for Estero’s Bonus Density Program for certain properties, unless a landowner establishes a vested right to a different fee. This program applies only to existing zoned projects that have previously been approved for bonus density by Lee County. Those projects are Estero Grande, Estero on the River and Downtown Estero. Bonus density allows a developer to build more units than permitted in exchange for paying a fee. These funds would be held in a separate account to be used only for [...]
Future land use and prohibition of medical marijuana facilities reviewed by the Planning & Zoning Board on October 17, 2017
Comprehensive Plan – Future Land Use Village consultants Jim LaRue and Laura DeJohn from LaRue Planning and Management Services conducted a workshop on the Future Land Use goals, objectives and policies at the Planning & Zoning Board meeting October 17. They explained that the goal for Future Land Use is: Promote the development of Estero as a community with a unique quality of life, distinct character, and diverse housing, economic, recreational, and social opportunities by protecting the natural resources, environment, and lifestyle; establishing aesthetic and design requirements; managing the type, location, quality, design, density and intensity of future land uses; [...]
Council to address fee for bonus density and Stormwater Master Plan contract, and conduct workshops on FDOT landscape enhancement plan, Comprehensive Plan status and Legislative priorities at their meeting on October 18, 2017
Council will address Resolution 2017-19 adopting a fee for bonus density for land acquisition and an amendment to increase funding by $40,000 for the Stormwater Master Plan contract at their meeting at 9:30 a.m., Wednesday, October 18. Council will then convene to conduct workshops. The first workshop will be a presentation by the Florida Department of Transportation describing the preliminary design of their US 41 landscaping enhancement project which is designed to create a beautiful corridor through the Village. There will then be an update of the Comprehensive Plan and proposed meeting calendar, and then a discussion of the Legislative [...]
Future land use and prohibition of medical marijuana facilities on the agenda for the Planning & Zoning Board on October 17, 2017
Comprehensive Plan – Future Land Use Village consultants from LaRue Planning and Management Services will conduct a workshop on the Future Land Use goals, objectives and policies at the Planning & Zoning Board meeting, 5:30 p.m., Tuesday, October 17. Public Hearing Following the workshop, there will be a Public Hearing for Ordinance 2017-10, an ordinance to amend the Land Development Code to prohibit medical marijuana cultivation facilities and treatment center dispensaries within the Village. Residents are invited to attend and offer comments, or they may watch the meeting online at: http://estero-fl.gov/council/watch-meetings-online/. The Village’s first Comprehensive Plan is underway and, as [...]
Village Council approved a number of bids for services, consultants for Estero Parkway roadway/landscape design, and conducted a Comprehensive Plan workshop at their meeting September 20, 2017
Public Comment on Non-Agenda Items Gary Israel, representing Rotary District 6960, spoke about the Irma Disaster Relief Fund and how the Rotary is setting up a Donor Advised Fund through the Rotary Foundation. The Rotary Clubs are going to adopt communities, giving priority based on communities with children and the elderly. They need many volunteers for this endeavor to do everything from heavy lifting to phone calls, sharing posts on social media and raising funds for the project. Those interested in volunteering should send an email to mary@saundersgrouprealty.com and let her know if you are/are not a Rotarian. Several residents [...]