US-41 north of Coconut Road
The Coconut Point development will replace the cinema that was first proposed with a 380-unit apartment building on six acres, along with a multi-story car park. The original plan and subsequent proposal received a considerable number of complaints from residents in Shadow Wood and Engage Estero. The objections centered on
- The 5-story building would have caused line-of-sight issues for Shadow Wood Residents.
- It would have been a departure from the 4-story limit of other developments, other than high-rise buildings in coastal areas.
- Density per acre was out of step with other developments.
- The development would seriously impact traffic flow, especially during rush-hour periods, at the junction of Coconut Road and US-41.
It is understood that new proposals will be presented to the Planning, Zoning and Design Board this Fall. Engage Estero has been informed that development height will now be four stories, not five, and the number of units will be reduced from the original 380. More precise details are not yet available, but residents concerned about this development are encouraged to attend the upcoming meeting when announced.
The original plan to install a hotel in the Coconut Point car park opposite the south side of Target has been shelved for now but not ruled out entirely. The Estero Village Council would not allow the proposal to proceed because the structure was based on a wooden internal design, not the concrete block they requested.