Minutes of
Public Meeting # 73

March 13. 2006
Marsh Landing Clubhouse, Estero, Florida

Panel Members Present:

Neal Noethlich, Chairman; Don Eslick, Estero Council of Community Leaders; Greg Toth , Estero Development Community;. Dan DeLisi, Estero Development Community, Mike Cato, Estero Fire Rescue; Jack Lienesch, Estero Civic Association. Treasurer: Fran Wagner, ECA. Recording Secretary: Jim Ramsburg, ECCL. Absent: Carl Barraco, Estero Chamber of Commerce.

Noethlich called the meeting to order at 6:05 PM.

Public Participation:

Twenty-five participants were present including 17 members of the general public. Ramsburg reported that public notices of the meeting were published in the Fort Myers News-Press, the Bonita Daily News and the Bonita Banner. Notices were posted on the Internet in the Estero Development Report, news-press.com and on the esterofl.org Web site of the ECCL/ECPP/ECA/EDRC and the Web site of Estero Fire Rescue. A paid advertising notice of the meeting was placed in the Bonita Banner of March 8. Meeting notices were posted in Lee County South Regional Library, Colonial Bank and the Estero office of Realty World.

Treasurer's Report

Wagner reported a current balance of $6,817.06 in the Community Planning Panel account on deposit at the Colonial Bank in Estero. Toth: Motion to accept Eslick: Second. Report accepted unanimously.

Secretary's Report

Noethlich distributed minutes of the February meeting. Toth: Motion to accept minutes. Lienesch: Second. Minutes accepted unanimously.

Fountain Lakes Professional Office Park

Jon Hagen of Banks Engineering and Joe Pavich & Robert Gerrero of Realty World Florida presented plans for a proposed two story 20,000 square-foot office building adjacent to the south side of Fountain Lakes Boulevard on the west side of US 41. The structure would replace the current temporary building used as a sales office for Centex Homes. Pavich explained that the primary use for the building would be for the Realty World real estate office and related businesses -such as mortgage and title companies. Pavich added that he has worked with the Fountain Lakes community to obtain its endorsement of the project and that the project is intended to enhance the entrance to Fountain Lakes. Toth noted the possible additional use of the building as a real estate training school and questioned the traffic created by such use. Eslick inquired about the existence of any environmentally sensitive lands on the site. Pavich said that the issue will be investigated to comply with environmental regulations. The Panel noted that a 15 foot buffer is planned between the site and the US 41 easement. DeLisi said that a 20 foot buffer would be acceptable and advised the applicant to expand the proposed list of uses for the building for flexibility in the future. Toth agreed with these comments. Pavich assured the Panel that he would keep it advised of his follow-through to its comments. The Panel asked about an access road extending through the property. A covenant in the purchase contract prohibits such a road, however, the final decision will be made by Lee County. Noethlich indicated that the applicant should plan to return to a future ECPP public meeting when he is in position to provide more specific information.

Mayfair Village Planned Residential Development

Land use attorney Matt Uhle of Knott, Consoer, Ebelini, Hart & Swett presented plans for the proposed development of 17 single family homes on a 5.52 acre tract at 8790 East Broadway. The site is a narrow tract south of East Broadway, west of the current two lane Sandy Lane and east of the Seminole Gulf railroad right of way. Two deviations are requested in the proposal. The first would allow only one access point on East Broadway at the site's north side until such a time when the Sandy Lane extension and realignment are completed when a second access would be added to its southwest side to connect with the new Sandy Lane. The second requests a 15 foot buffer between residential lots and right of ways. The Panel raised no objections to these deviations and complimented Uhle on the thoroughness of the proposal prepared by TDM Engineering.

ECPP Awards Program Status

Lienesch reported that Bill Prysi and Nancy Cohen of the Estero Design Review Committee will represent the EDRC in establishing the criteria for the David Graham Award for Excellence in Planning, Design and Construction.. Noethlich asked that the ECPP and EDRC representatives meet promptly to expedite this project's progress.

Code Enforcement

Noethlich and Eslick noted the possible Estero Code violation in the coloring of the canopy fronting the Shell Oil gasoline and convenience store under construction at Estero Interstate Commerce Park on the northwest quadrant of I-75 and Corkscrew Road. Noethlich reported that he will consult with Lee County about this issue.

Estero resident Sam Levy, acting as a volunteer liaison with Lee County, reported further investigation into the unsightliness and possible traffic hazards posed by newspaper distribution boxes at four locations in Estero. Levy said that he will continue to investigate this matter for possible resolution without interfering with United States Freedom of Press guarantees. The Panel asked Levy to research statutory for some of his suggestions that may have been implemented elsewhere and thanked him for his continuing efforts.

Panel Composition and Terms of Service

DeLisi expressed a desire for greater turnover in representatives from the development community on The Panel with staggered terms of two or three years. Noethlich asked that DeLisi put his proposal in writing for Panel consideration at a future meeting and suggested that applicants be asked to commit to serving a full term and have business interests in Estero. Delisi said that Estero residency should merit bonus consideration.

Toth: Motion to adjourn. Eslick: Second. Motion passed unanimously. Meeting adjourned at 7:48 PM.