ESTERO COMMUNITY PLANNING PANEL

Minutes of Public Meeting #121– October 18, 2010

Estero Community Park, Estero, Florida

Panel Members Present: 

Jack Lienesch, Civic Association, Chairman; Dan DeLisi, Estero development community; Greg Toth, Founding Member; John Goodrich, ECCL; Bev MacNellis, Treasurer, ECCL and Bill Brown, Recording Secretary, ECCL.  Absent: Ned Dewhirst, Estero development community; Erik Dickens, ECCL; Jeff Maas, Estero Chamber of Commerce; Neal Noethlich, Emeritus Member.

 Public Notice:   

Brown reported that the meeting notice appeared in the Naples Daily Calendar and Esterofl.org websites.  The notice was posted at the South County Regional Library, Realty World of Estero, and the BB&T and the Fifth Third Banks.

Secretary’s Report:  

Brown distributed minutes of the September 20^th and October 4^th meetings.  Goodrich:  Motion to accept minutes.   DeLisi: Seconded.  Accepted unanimously.

Treasurer’s Report:

MacNellis reported a balance of $1,000.72 as of September 20th, 2010. Report accepted.

PRESENTATIONS:

 New Horizons 2035 Plan EAR Proposed Strategies –

Kathie Ebaugh and Brandon Dunn from Lee County DCD gave a PowerPoint presentation on the status of Lee County’s Comprehensive Plan Update.  The goal is to establish an updated comprehensive plan that addresses the broad array of challenges facing Lee County in the next 25 years. These challenges include protecting community character, promoting economic development, conserving environmentally sensitive lands, accommodating future growth, providing public infrastructure, strengthening connections within the county, managing change, and improving mobility and access.  She discussed: Livability, Strengthening Connections, Community Character and Sustainability.   

The Panel focused its discussion primarily on the plans for development of Mixed Use Centers.  Toth pointed out that Estero had run into roadblocks with the County in attempting to get zoning for mixed use developments.  He wanted to know if the County is going to revise its code and procedures to make mixed use easier to achieve.  Ebaugh responded that is the intention.  DeLisi said there are problems raised by other county departments in getting mixed use.  Ebaugh responded that the County Manager has told other departments that they are to participate in this process and the groups have been meeting among themselves.  Toth pointed out that they had wanted to make the Community Park  a community hub, but that had been rejected because of insurance concerns. DeLisi said Flexibility is needed in mixed use implementation. Ebaugh said they will continue to work with our Panel on the mixed use overlay in Estero.

Feedback on Estero’s current Goal 19 Language

Kathie also highlighted areas in the current plan specific to Estero that the County feels needs better definition:  Our plan does not discuss mixed use specifically.  She noted that the large number of variances requested by developers indicates defects in the County’s and Estero’s  language for mixed use.  Also, we mention years 2002 and 2003 as targets for achievement.  She also thinks our plans for integrating uses is not specific enough.  She also commented that the LDC has similar language issues.  Delisi indicated that we must be more accommodating to our developers – collectively we have built too many hoops for them to jump through.  “Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good.”  There was also discussion of how we can make our County Park a community park – what is necessary to accomplish this?

ECPP:

Plans for November 13 Workshop:

Lienesch distributed and discussed lists of topics that had been suggested for the November 13 Workshop.  He reported on one proposal to group these items into four potential general topics: 1. Mixed Use 2. Connectivity 3. Design standards and 4. Future Development.  The specific items in our list, the list from ECCL, that from EDRC and a potential list from the development community could all fit into one or more of these general categories.  Toth suggested that we look at the charette data from the last Workshop.  DeLisi said we need to consider how we can do a better job of working with the County.  Toth said we shouldn’t let the current economic situation effect long range plans.  Lienesch said we need to focus on what people like about Estero and what we need to improve regarding such issues as protecting the environment, convenience, noise, etc.

Next Meeting:

Lienesch announced that Wal-Mart has requested to present at our next Panel meeting.

Panel was adjourned at 7:30 PM.

NEXT EVENT: November 13, 9:00 AM at the Hyatt Regency Resort and Spa – Planning Workshop                    

NEXT MEETING: November 22, 6:00 PM, Estero Community Park