Spring Run Golf Club
The Board started their meeting with a public information meeting for Spring Run Golf Club which is proposing to expand their clubhouse, add an outdoor bar and dining area for casual dining, one additional bocce ball court and an improved pool deck.
They will be adding 14 – 17 new parking spaces for employee overflow parking. The area will be fully landscaped, and the lighting for the parking lot will turn off at 11 p.m. They have met with the residents who live across from this new parking lot to make them aware of the future plans.
Spring Run Golf Club is located in The Brooks off of Coconut Road.
Public Comment: 2 residents spoke against the addition of the parking spaces; 54 eComment cards were received with most in favor and two not in favor of the expansion/additional parking lots.
No voting occurs during public information meetings.
Workshop
Downtown Estero
The applicant presented their plans for a proposed mixed-use project with multi-family buildings, two mixed-use buildings and commercial uses along US 41. The initial phase will include a road through the project which will extend from US 41 to Broadway, along with perimeter buffers, landscape and streetscape.
The streetscape will include palms abutting the street and sidewalk with lush plantings at pedestrian zones, along with decorative lighting. There will be an amenity center with pool, a walking trail around a lake and a dog park.
The applicant stated that emphasis has been placed on safe pedestrian circulation to the many public amenities located throughout the site, including a formal public plaza directly across from main amenity building.
Public Comment: 2 residents spoke of concerns regarding buffering, traffic and water issues.
No voting occurs during workshops.
Public Hearing
The Colonnade
The project plans have been revised since a public information meeting was held for this applicant in July 2021. They are requesting a Development Order and approval for their 20-acre project that includes a mixture of independent living and assisted living units, recreational facilities, a total of 15,000 sq ft of commercial buildings and monument signs.
The first phase of the project will include independent and assisted living, and 7,500 square feet of commercial on the northeast corner of the property. The paint colors are somewhat subdued from the initial pattern book. They plan to have tennis courts and a bocce court for their residents.
The Colonnade is located at the northeast corner of Corkscrew Road and Sandy Lane.
Public Comment: 1 resident asked they consider the type of traffic signal that residents can activate at the cross walk at Corkscrew and Sandy Lane; a second resident suggested crosswalks on all four corners at the intersection, an 8-foot tall wall with 2-foot berm, concerns about the metal roof, concerns about the color scheme and construction dust.
The Board voted to approve the development order with stipulations.
Board Communication: The Village land use attorney led a discussion of the state’s conflict of interest rules which will be discussed further at a future meeting.
Co-Chair Howard Levitan announced he is stepping down from his position and heading back to Maine. Levitan has contributed significantly to the Village of Estero over the last 12 years. First, he served on the volunteer Estero Design Review Board prior to the Village’s incorporation. He then served two terms as Village Councilmember, and lastly as Co-Chair of this Board.
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., April 12, 2022.