Design plans for the Estero Grande retail center and Estero Grande Parkside apartment complex have been approved for this development west of U.S. 41 at Estero Parkway directly across from Walmart. Estero Grande will include a Starbucks with a drive through and may include a gas station in the future. Estero Grande Parkside will have 198 multifamily units and offer pedestrian connectivity to the Shoppes at Estero Grande.

There are also two new hotels proposed for Estero. Marriott is planning to build a five-story, 100-room hotel on Corkscrew Commons Drive adjacent to the existing Embassy Suites by Hilton. Comterra Development is proposing to build Coconut Square Hotel, a five-story, 128-room hotel at the southwest corner of U.S. 41 and Coconut Road.

Meanwhile, the Planning & Zoning Board (PZB) unanimously voted to recommend that Village Council deny Naples Community Hospital’s request for 24/7 operation of a freestanding emergency room as part of a 40,000-square-foot healthcare facility within the Shoppes at Coconut Trace, located west of U.S. 41 across from Coconut Point Mall.

At the mall, two new retailers are planning to build new stores: Bassett Furniture and faith-based boutique Altar’d State.

Additionally, several Design Review Board and Planning & Zoning Board members have terms that are expiring on March 31, 2018. Anyone interested in serving on these boards must submit an application to the Village of Estero by Feb. 13. Village Council will begin conducting interviews on Feb. 21. Contact Village Clerk Kathy Hall for more information at (239)221-5035 or email mailto:hall@estero-fl.gov. Applications are also on the Village website.

The next Design Review Board meeting will be Wed., Feb. 14, at 5:30 p.m. The next Planning & Zoning Board meeting will be Tuesday, Feb. 20, at 5:30 p.m.

Interactive Maps of Developments Under Review and Developments Under Construction can be found on the ECCL website https://esterotoday.com/community-planning/ .

Village Council Actions

Tidewater

Council voted to approve the final, “Phase 3” platting for Tidewater by Del Webb, creating an additional 118 single-family lots in this new, 385-home community at the southwest corner of Estero Parkway and Ben Hill Griffin Parkway.

Estero Grande

Council also approved a subdivision plat for Estero Grande, creating nine tracts including commercial and multifamily residential sections as well as a preserve area, interior roadways, a lake and site drainage areas. Estero Grande is located on the west side of U.S. 41 across from Walmart.

Additionally, Council approved the “pattern book” for architectural elements of the commercial buildings within Estero Grande, contingent upon recommended changes in language. The developer agreed to add information addressing pedestrian connectivity and safety. Any future plans for a gas station within this development would need to go before the Design Review Board and return to Council for approval.

Design Review Board Actions

Park Place of Estero

The board approved a development order for Park Place of Estero, a 16-lot, single-family home neighborhood at the west end of Block Lane, located off River Ranch Road north of Estero High School. This small community will be comprised of two-story, semi-custom built homes. Plans include a shaded, public gathering place with benches and a half-acre lake. Sidewalks will run along both sides of the road, and three heritage trees will be preserved on the property. The board asked the developer to return at a future date with updated plans for the gate and signage. Click here to view the Park Place of Estero presentation.

Estero Ridge

The board approved a paint job for the Estero Ridge shopping plaza located at the southeast corner of Estero Parkway and U.S. 41 which includes Cancun Bar & Grill, Rusty’s Raw Bar and Thrive Community Church. The board’s approval was conditional upon Estero Ridge coming into compliance on signage and landscaping, as well as adding more gray color tones to the mass of the building.

Marriott Springhill Suites

The board held a public workshop with representatives of Marriott, who are proposing to build a five-story, 100-room hotel on 2.5 acres on Corkscrew Commons Drive. This would be adjacent to the existing Embassy Suites by Hilton. Marriott has revised its plans to update architectural elements based on the board’s previous recommendations. The board requested Marriott bring color chips when they return at a future date. Click here to view the Marriott Springhill Suites presentation.

University Self-Storage

The board held a public workshop for University Self-Storage, a three-story facility with 725 storage units and ancillary office space proposed on the west side of Ben Hill Griffin Parkway across from the Grandezza community. Revised plans include a varied roof height, simplified shutters, added pedestrian crossings, a bike rack and handicapped parking spaces. Palm trees will be planted along Ben Hill Griffin, and a buffer will be added to the north end of the property. Signage will be on the building only. The board recommended adding a mini-tower between the two end towers and adding awnings. Click here to view the University Self-Storage presentation.

West Bay Golf Club

The board approved a development order for West Bay Golf Club to renovate its existing 18-hole golf course west of Williams Road and U.S. 41. West Bay plans to improve tee boxes and bunkers and modify the lakes while reshaping the golf course. Click here to view West Bay’s presentation.

Bassett Furniture

The board approved a development order for Bassett Furniture to build a 15,100-square-foot store on an outlot at Coconut Point Mall between Ethan Allen and City Mattress. This will be a single-story building with Mediterranean style architecture, earth tone paint colors and a landscaping buffer along U.S. 41. Click here to view Bassett Furniture’s presentation.

Altar’d State – Coconut Point

Alar’d State is a faith-based retail store with 90 locations nationwide. It is opening in Coconut Point Mall at the corner of Fashion Drive and Via Monte Carlo Way, across from Tommy Bahama. The DRB approved Altar’d State’s design proposal, which includes refinishing the building facade with copper-clad canopies, stained glass windows and an illuminated metal wall sculpture. Click here to view the Altar’d State presentation.

Coconut Point Pre-Owned Vehicles

A monument sign for Coconut Point Pre-Owned Vehicles is proposed south of the Coconut Point Ford main entrance on U.S. 41. The new sign would be 40 percent of the size of the existing dealership sign, and lettering would be illuminated. This was a public information meeting only. The board suggested the applicant bring back a landscape plan and photos.

Shoppes at Estero Grande

The board held a workshop for Shoppes at Estero Grande, a proposed 8,689-square-foot commercial development including a drive-through on about 4.65 acres west of the intersection of U.S. 41 and Estero Parkway. The design includes seven pedestrian crosswalks and a stop sign at the drive through; however, the board suggested additional traffic calming measures. Some neighboring residents spoke against allowing a gas station. The developer will submit a separate design plan for the gas station at a later date.

Planning & Zoning Board

West Bay Club Dog Park

The board approved West Bay Club’s request to develop recreational facilities on its property located west of U.S. 41 at the west end Williams Road. Plans include a dog park, four pickleball courts, a bocce ball court, a restroom facility and a grassy parking area. Click here to view West Bay’s presentation.

Estero Grande Parkside

The board approved a deviation to reduce the number of required parking spaces for Estero Grande Parkside, a 198-unit, multifamily residential complex planned to be built behind the Estero Grande commercial development west of the intersection of U.S. 41 and Estero Parkway. The reduction, from 2 to 1.75 parking spaces per unit, will allow the developer to reduce the total number parking spaces from 436 to 347. In return, Estero Grande Parkside will retain more green space to help with drainage and reduce surface water runoff. This community’s amenities will include a clubhouse, outdoor pool, volleyball court and bocce ball/pickleball court. Click here to view the Estero Grande Parkside presentation.

NCH/Shoppes at Coconut Trace

The board voted to recommend that Council deny Naples Community Hospital’s request for a zoning amendment to allow 24/7 operation of a freestanding emergency room as part of a 40,000-square-foot healthcare facility within the Shoppes at Coconut Trace, located west of U.S. 41 across from Coconut Point Mall. As part of Coconut Trace’s zoning, hours of operation are restricted to between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. NCH also was requesting zoning deviations to build the facility closer to U.S. 41 and to increase the maximum allowed height of 62 feet. The proposed emergency department would be 12,000 square feet with the remainder of the facility including medical offices, testing facilities and related ancillary services. The PZB received approximately 200 emails in opposition to this project. Click here to view the NCH and Village Staff presentations.

Coconut Square Hotel

Comterra Development is proposing to build a five-story, 128-room hotel at 2340 Walden Center Drive on about 2.6 acres southwest of the intersection of U.S. 41 and Coconut Road in the Pelican Landing Development of Regional Impact (DRI). This was a public information meeting only. Click here to view Comterra Development’s presentation.