Public Comment: A resident thanked Council for their support of the Light Up
Estero event. He also spoke of the efforts by the Rotary Club of Estero, Estero Chamber of Commerce, Estero Forever Foundation, Estero Council of Community Leaders and the Interfaith Charities to assist with Hurricane Ian relief, as well as presenting scholarships to 3 Estero High School students. Another resident reminded those in attendance that the Estero High School girls soccer team will be playing for the team championship this evening.
Presentation
Council started their meeting with a short presentation by FEMA National Flood Insurance Individual Assistance Presenter Jeffery Parker CFM. He stated that most properties are vulnerable to flooding, with over 50% of losses occurring in the low to moderate risk areas, which is why it is important to have flood insurance. He stated that residents may purchase flood insurance at any time. There is information available about the National Flood Insurance Program here and there are flood maps on the Village website here.
Ordinance 2023-01 & Resolution 2023-01
There was a first reading of this ordinance pertaining to amending the zoning for the International Design Center (Miromar Design Center) to allow office uses. The design center is located on the south side of Corkscrew Road, east of I-75. Ordinance 2023-01 Resolution 2023-01
Council passed this to a second reading on February 15, 2023.
Workshops
Lee County Metropolitan Planning Organization Rail Trail Feasibility Study Update
Don Scott, Metropolitan Planning Organization, Charles Hines, Trust for Public Lands, and Ned Baier, Volkert Engineering, participated in a presentation on the MPO’s Rail Trail Feasibility Study.
The proposed 14-mile long, paved trail would start at Alico Road and end at Bonita Beach Road. It was stated there are funds available in the Sun Trail Program and other programs and the Trust for Public Lands will assist in the negotiations with the Seminole Gulf Railroad for the purchase of the property. However, how the right-of-way gets purchased is still to be determined.
No voting occurs during workshops; however, Council came to a consensus to support the MPO’s purchase of the railroad for this purpose, keeping all Estero residents in mind.
Public Comment: Over 100 eComment cards were placed into the record and 7 residents spoke. Most were in favor of a rail trail; however, most of the residents of The Vines and Cascades were opposed to having it in such close proximity to their communities.
Florida Department of Transportation Southwest Connect Project
Public Works Director
David Willems gave a presentation on the Florida Department of Transportation’s (FDOT) Southwest Connect project.
FDOT is planning on widening I-75 south of the Corkscrew Road intersection in 2027. They will be conducting public meetings: Wednesday, February 12, on-line at https://bit.ly/I-75South, and in-person on Thursday, February 16 at North Collier Regional Park Exhibition Hall, 15000 Livingston Road. You may view the archived meeting from February 13 – 27 at www.swflinterstates.com/I-75-south-corridor/, which is the I-75 South Corridor website.
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, February 15, 2023.