Public Hearing – Via Coconut EPD
The Board started their meeting with a public hearing for a request to rezone from Agriculture to Estero Planned Development for a 20-acre parcel on the west side of Via Coconut Point south of Corkscrew Road and across from Genova. This is the specific zoning district that is required in the Village Center Land Use category. An additional application was submitted to vacate an existing 66-foot wide right-of-way on the property.
Plans call for three U-shaped three- and four-story residential buildings; a commercial mixed-use area with two three-story buildings with residential units and retail, personal service, or office uses; two single story retail/restaurant buildings; a potential 10,000 square foot church or office on three acres, and a one-acre civic/park area at the north end of the site proposed to be dedicated to the Village. Their request includes 330 apartment units throughout the community.
The main street area will be defined by street pavers, and the entry will be flanked by two single-story buildings, one for a water-front restaurant and the other for retail. The overall architectural style of the development will be Mediterranean with barrel roof tiles. A future interconnection to the west is proposed, as well as a potential future connection to Happy Hollow Lane.
A combination of surface parking, on-street parking, and residential ground floor level parking is proposed. Some of the residential parking will be concealed on the ground level of the residential buildings topped with a second floor amenity deck, and surface parking will be located to the rear of the residential buildings and adjacent to the church/office. Small surface lots and on-street parking will serve the Main Street area. The presentation is available here.
Public Comment: 6 Genova residents spoke and 2 eComment cards from Genova residents were included in the record.
The Board voted to continue this application to the September 14, 2021, meeting in order to review several conditions which need to be addressed.
Public Information Meeting – Shoppes at University Highlands
University Highlands is seeking a development order for their Building No. 5, which is a 7,300-square foot commercial building. This building is the last to be built in the Shoppes at University Highlands center located at Highland Oaks Drive, south of Everblades Parkway and Ben Hill Griffin Parkway.
The building is an architectural replica of Building No. 2, featuring tower elements and undulating rooflines as well as sidewalks and public gathering spaces with benches. The presentation is available here.
No voting occurs during public information meetings.
Public Hearing –The Tides at Pelican Landing
The Tides at Pelican Landing was requesting review and approval of its selected paint colors. The applicant had previously started painting their buildings without a permit.
The Tides at Pelican Landing is located on the west side of US41, south of Coconut Road. The presentation is available here.
Public Comment: 2 residents from The Tides commented and eComment cards from residents from The Tides were placed in the record.
The Board voted to deny this application based on the colors presented.
Residents may view the archived meeting by going to the Village website.
The next Planning, Zoning & Design Board meeting will be held at 4:30 p.m., September 14, 2021.