Presentation-Sept-26th-2025final-JGrev2

Presentation Slides

Summary

Key ongoing and planned developments for Estero.
Title fraud: Don’t let scammers steal your home!

By Allan Bowditch, President, Engage Estero.

The meeting was held at the Estero Recreation Center and was attended by approximately 50 residents. After the Pledge of Allegiance, Allan Bowditch, President of Engage Estero, started the meeting with an acknowledgement and congratulations to Lou Frattarelli and his wife, Louise, for their dedication to supporting many organizations whose mission is to build a community that everyone can be proud of.

Lou has been a member of the ECCL for many years, serving on the Transportation Committee and later becoming its director.

• He became a founding member of the East Corkscrew Alliance in 2016.
• In 2020, Lou and Louise became volunteers with Estero Forever Foundation and members of the Estero Forever Founders Club.
• They spent many hours at the driving range, providing funds for the foundation to support the community.

Their behind-the-scenes efforts during the last decade have sparked numerous improvements for our community. Estero is very blessed to have benefited from their immeasurable support and guidance. We wish them continued health and happiness in their retirement.

Key ongoing and planned developments for Estero.

Before starting the presentation on the key developments taking place in Estero, Allan conveyed Mary Gibb’s apologies for her having to address some family issues. Allan explained that, due to the work he, Mark Novitski, and Kim Dailey had contributed to the updated 61-page report on the “Urbanization of Estero” -he felt comfortable delivering the presentation.

Allan explained that residents should be aware that, because many land use applications had been made to Lee County in the 1980s and 1990s, the Village of Estero had limited control over the developments on those previously purchased acres of land. Aesthetic design is a key consideration, and those developments already completed continue to ensure Estero retains its unique style and “look”.

While residents have expressed concerns about the pace of development, developers have also expressed their concerns about the difficulties getting their applications approved.

While many residents might be tempted to halt further development, municipalities, like companies, that fail to adapt to change and address the needs of a shifting demographic will not prosper. The result will be a drop in home values if no one is attracted to live in our locality. Allan highlighted five development locations regarded as significant due to their size and location. These were:

1. Estero Crossing:  The residential section is called “Corsa” (North of Lowes)
2. The F.L. Star Development, North of Broadway and East on US 41.
3. The Woodfield Development, Northwest Corner of US 41 & Coconut Road.
4. The Jones Lang LaSalle Americas, the West side of Via Coconut opposite Genova.
5. The Hospital Corp of America’s Property on US 41 (East side), North of Hertz.

We provide a comprehensive account of these developments in the report mentioned earlier. The developments include:

• Corsa P 15,
• North of Broadway/US41 P 20,
• Woodfield P 21,
• Opposite Genova P22,
• North of Hertz/US41 P 22,

You can view the YouTube video of the presentation at this link: https://youtu.be/dC_p31l-vfM

The brief details of each development are:

1) Estero Crossing: The residential section is called “Corsa” (North of Lowes)

• 6 X 3 story luxury apartments (306 Units)
• 60,000 sq ft of commercial properties
• Pedestrian-friendly, benches, and lush landscaping
• Restaurants with indoor and outdoor seating, other entertainment, boutique-style shops, health & wellness offices and studios
• This charming set of residential condominiums is now completed and will be home to approximately 750 residents.

2) The F.L. Star Development, North of Broadway and East on US 41

• A residential development on 34 acres east of US 41 in Estero
• Phase 1 has begun, including infrastructure
• 3 X multistory buildings with 100 units each and ten townhomes for a total of 310 units
• Lee County approved 200,000 square feet for non-residential use and a 125-room hotel.
• There will be a pocket park and retail stores. The population in the development will be approximately 682.

3) Woodfield Development, Northwest Corner of US 41 & Coconut Road

• Phase 1 of the project has commenced, encompassing infrastructure, two apartment buildings, and restaurants.
• The 45.6-acre development.
• A mixed-use development. 596 residential dwelling units.
• Offices, retail, restaurants, and other related uses.
• Spanish Colonial Revival architecture
• 6-acre indigenous preserve area along the western and northern boundaries
• One access point from Coconut Road at Walden Center Drive
• Plans have specified the integration of a roundabout.
• The expected population excluding the hotel will be around 1,300.

4) Jones Lang LaSalle Americas, located on the West side of Via Coconut, opposite Genova

• A 20-acre development
• Mixed-use development and a
  1-acre public park
• 330 multi-family units, 29,600 square feet of commercial use
• 10,000-square-foot church
• Pocket Park and other amenities.
• No “under-building parking
• Replaced with garages, carports, and surface parking behind the buildings
• The developer will reduce the height of mixed-use buildings along Main Street from 3 to 2 stories
• Ground was broken in mid-August 2025
• Likely completion late 2026, with a total of approximately 730 residents.

5) The Hospital Corp of America’s Property on US 41 (East side), North of Hertz

• A prime site in Estero
• Development will need to achieve a high level of aesthetic design and quality because of the site’s size and location
• Possibly like the Mercato in Naples.
• The expected population at this site might be between 1.500 and 2,000 residents.
• But no specific plan is in place currently

The Q &A:

Several questions were raised following the presentation, including:

Q1: I’m wondering when the park across from Koreshan is opening, and when they’re going to put the bridge in on 41 to cross between the canoes and Koreshan?

• The 100-acre area, which combines the land on the east side of 41 with Koreshan Park, is currently in the overall planning process. The village is still in the very early stages of the plan, although Phase 1 is currently being implemented. I know that the suggestion of a bridge across US 41 has been discussed. Still, perhaps the outcome of the plans will be presented at our December 11^th Community Meeting, when Chris Baker will provide an update on this situation.

Q2 I was expecting to visit the Estero on the River Park, but the first Phase was supposed to be finished, and I couldn’t get access.

• Yes, it does appear that there have been delays on this project. I will see if I can get a timeline.

Q3, You didn’t mention the development, which is located across Corkscrew Road opposite Genova, where 154 homes will be built. Is it approved yet?

• Yes, it has, and that one is covered in the report. They did reduce the number of homes proposed. It was initially planned for 170 homes, but the PZDB wanted the number decreased to 154. They now have access to both the east and west sides of that development, which will benefit residents and reduce the bottleneck on Sandy Lane. I think that development will start in the reasonably near future. It is called Summercrest.

Q4 Will the green grass field be left as it is next to the Hertz Office on Williams Road and US 41?

• Although Allan was initially unable to answer this question, he has since found out that the 5 acres of land are owned by Hertz. It is designated for office use. Hertz has requested that the zoning be changed to residential, but that change has not been granted at this time.

Q5. That rendering of the development opposite Genova on Via Coconut, with the winding sidewalk, looked beautiful, but I think there’s a sidewalk along the curbside. So, would the developer be destroying that sidewalk and then building this beautiful aesthetic sidewalk? Which would not be great, because it looks good, and walking would be great.

• Later Answer: The sidewalk will be kept. If you look, you will see that the awnings are located inside the sidewalk along the road and will remain there.

Q6 Why are so many apartments likely to be built, especially on the former property of the Hospital Corp of America?

• You can acquire a significantly greater number of units if you develop apartments than if you develop single-family homes. So, I suspect that part of the reason for the desire to have more condominiums and apartments here is primarily linked to the commercial return on that investment. I think that the village is, to some degree, hindered by the uncertainty of what the plans might be. If you had 1,000 units on 100 acres, that would be only 10 units per acre. The PZDB is somewhat hindered by the regulations in place.

Q7 Why is the septic to sewer conversion taking so long?

• We will hopefully have an update on timing and costs at the Dec 11^th Community Meeting here at the Recreation Center at 10 am. David Willems will address this at the meeting. Mark Nowitzki has a colleague, James Root, who has actually built a house at the bottom end of Broadway, and he is also very concerned about when the project will be completed.
  
• I am aware that a key issue has been the delay from some organizations that have promised grants for the project. The work cannot be undertaken before the grant is received; otherwise, it will be rescinded. These grants will, of course, reduce the costs to homeowners and are therefore very important. Unfortunately, this delay means that the contamination of the Estero River will continue until this issue is resolved!

Q8  Will we have a splash pool for the children in the Sports Park?

• I know this question has been raised by others, but the final plans are still being worked on, so I cannot give you a final answer on that at this time..

Q9 Will we have a Veterans recognition area? (an offline question asked at the end of the meeting)

• Engage Estero has, for several years, been trying to establish a recognition area for Veterans. I believe it would be a good idea to have it in a section of the Sports Park not tucked away in, the 100 Acre area along the Estero River. It would be nice for young people and older people to recognize its significance in the Sport Park when walking around.

Don’t let Scammers Take Away your Home!

The topic of title fraud addressed by Kevin Karnes, Lee County’s Clerk of the Court & Comptroller, was somewhat scary. Still, Kevin’s excellent talk was delivered with wit and panache, keeping the audience highly engaged. Kevin explained a little of the background to the work that he performs, which is to look after the Lee County funds for allocating expenditure by the various departments, amongst many other requirements.

Property fraud occurs when a party uses a forged deed to sell or transfer property that does not belong to them. While a forged deed does not actually transfer the property, it gives the appearance to the rest of the world that the ownership of the property has been changed. If you believe you have been the victim of property fraud, removing this cloud from your title can be a complicated process. Kevin pointed out that if you fail to receive your property tax details around late October/early November, this should be a sign that there is a problem!

Unfortunately, if the time gap between when a title is fraudulently changed and when you realize you haven’t received your property tax assessment is several months, it can create a significant delay. In that case, the police have little chance of finding out who was responsible. He explained that this is why you should register your property with the tax office. While they may not be able to prevent the transfer, they have a legal duty to accept transfer documents if they meet the requirements. They can notify you of a change within 24 hours, which increases the chances of catching the offenders.

Visit the Property Fraud Alert Registration page: https://or.leeclerk.org/LandMarkWeb/FraudAlert

You can register personal names, business names, trusts, and individual parcels to receive Alert Notifications. Please review these Fraud Alert Registration Tips and FAQs before signing up, as they include naming conventions and helpful tips that can significantly enhance your results. After reviewing, fill in the items on the registration page to complete the registration.

Repeat the registration process as many times as you like to register names and parcels.

You may unregister a name or parcel by entering your email address on the Property Fraud Alert Registration page and then clicking on ‘Receive Email to Edit Property Fraud Alert’. You will receive an email with a list of your registered names/parcels, along with links that allow you to un-register each one.

If you feel you need to verify that you are already registered? Enter and confirm the email address. Then click on ‘Receive Email to View Registrations.’

Sadly, if you have been the victim of property fraud, the process is currently very involved and expensive to rectify. Kevin indicated that he is attempting to get the Florida legislature to implement a process that would avoid unnecessary legal costs, but it is a complex situation.

One of the questions asked at the end of the talk was, “What do I have to do to recover the title of my home?’

If you notice something that appears to be incorrect, please don’t delay. Here are typical steps:

1. Report to law enforcement
• Deed forgery, fraudulent conveyance, etc., are criminal acts under Florida law.
• A police report helps build the case and provides you with official documentation that can be used later.
• Lee Clerk’s site explicitly lists “report the crime to law enforcement” as its first recommended step.
2. File a civil lawsuit to “Quiet Title” (fraudulent conveyance)
• A complaint for quiet title seeks a court order declaring the fraudulent deed void and restoring your ownership rights.
• If successful, you can request that the Clerk remove or correct the fraudulent deed from the public records.
• You may also file a lis pendens (notice of a pending lawsuit) on the property in the county’s official records, which notifies others of a dispute and can deter further tampering.
3. Contact the property appraiser and tax collector
• A fraudulent deed might change who receives tax notices or where the tax bill is sent. That could lead to missed tax payments or auctions.
• Confirm that you are still listed as the owner for tax purposes (so subsequent notices or auctions don’t affect you).
4. Use an attorney experienced in real property/title litigation
• These cases often involve complex procedural issues, including locating and serving parties (sometimes unknown fraudsters), as well as navigating title records and property law.
• The Lee County Bar Association may be able to refer qualified attorneys.
5. Gather and preserve evidence
• Copies of the fraudulent deed, recording details, names used, etc.
• Any correspondence, emails, or documents connected to the fraud.
• The official records from the Clerk’s office regarding the recording.
• The law enforcement report.
6. Notify lenders, title insurers, and other relevant parties
• If your property has existing mortgages or title insurance, notify those parties about the fraud (they may have rights or be interested in protecting their interests).
• Title insurers may assist in defending or covering costs, depending on the policy terms.

In recent years, Florida has specifically empowered Lee County to adopt stronger anti-fraud measures. However, as Kevin pointed out, there are restrictions on what he can and cannot do in such a situation until a court order is obtained.

• The Clerk’s role is primarily ministerial: under prior law, even if a deed appeared fraudulent, the Clerk was compelled to accept and record it if it met the formal requirements for recording. The new pilot law grants some discretionary power (ID inspection) but does not allow the Clerk to refuse a properly executed instrument solely on doubt (unless it fails to meet legal form).
• The Clerk does not police title fraud proactively beyond the alert system; they do not have enforcement authority to investigate or prosecute fraud (that is left to law enforcement and prosecutors).
• The Clerk cannot unilaterally remove a fraudulent deed from the public record (that must come via a court order or judgment).

Engage Estero’s team extends its thanks to Kevin Karnes for his excellent presentation on this vital subject.

Presidents Report

Allan pointed out that if the Urbanization report had been billed on a commercial basis, it would have cost $38,000. The total work amounted to approximately 180 hours. Additionally, if the 26 experienced volunteers, who often work around 20-30 hours per week, were all paid a salary, the total payroll would be just under $2 million.

Engage Estero is comprised of highly experienced individuals from diverse disciplines. They have worked as CEO’s or leading managers across many disciplines. The point being made is that no one is suggesting we be paid these salaries; however, the public needs to be aware of the commitment made by the organization to keep residents informed about important facts relating to Greater Estero.

We can significantly increase our support for teachers and students if we receive more financial aid (donations) from community residents and businesses. Our expenses for supporting schools total approximately $75,000. Membership fees from HOAs and Gated Communities bring in $25,000, so even before we can provide financial support to schools or set aside funds for an Emergency Fund, we need to cover our costs.

We understand you may support many charities. Engage Estero is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, so you will receive tax benefits for any donations. Please help us do even more meaningful work for you in Greater Estero in 2026 and beyond. Visit https://esterotoday.app.neoncrm.com/forms/make-certain-our-future to help us reach our goals and improve your quality of life.