BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//EsteroToday.com by Engage Estero - ECPv6.15.20//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-WR-CALNAME:EsteroToday.com by Engage Estero X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://esterotoday.com X-WR-CALDESC:Events for EsteroToday.com by Engage Estero REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:America/New_York BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20220313T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20221106T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20230312T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20231105T060000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:-0500 TZOFFSETTO:-0400 TZNAME:EDT DTSTART:20240310T070000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:-0400 TZOFFSETTO:-0500 TZNAME:EST DTSTART:20241103T060000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=America/New_York:20230921T173000 DTEND;TZID=America/New_York:20230921T193000 DTSTAMP:20260428T043443 CREATED:20230824T172233Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230925T203241Z UID:33004-1695317400-1695324600@esterotoday.com SUMMARY:September Member and Community Meeting DESCRIPTION:Presentation PDF\n \n \n \n \n \n Speakers: \nAllan BowditchEngage Estero’s Chief Communications Officer \n \n \n \n \n \n Terry FlanaganEngage Estero’s Chief Business Administrator \n \n \n \n \n \n John QuinEstero Forever Foundation President \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n A Summary of The Community & Membership MeetingThe Estero Park and Recreation Center \nThursday\, September 21\, 2023. \nAllan Bowditch\, Engage Estero’s Chief Communications Officer\, opened the meeting. President Jim Gilmartin could not attend due to personal matters. \nAlthough a very high attendance was anticipated\, the severe storm that occurred just before the start of the meeting deterred several of those who had signed up for the meeting. Hopefully\, those individuals and others will review this report and the YouTube video of the meeting. \nFollowing the Pledge of Allegiance\, Allan Bowditch and Terry Flanagan\, Chief Business Administrator\, discussed various aspects of the developments in greater Estero. \n\nFull details of all the developments (residential and commercial) were highlighted to illustrate the increasing urbanization in our area. Details of the buildings and road and bike path developments that will likely occur in the coming years\, the latter as part of the Village’s Capital Improvement Plan (CIP)\, can be viewed on the following links. https://esterotoday.com/gecr2023qtr3/ and https://estero-fl.gov/cip/\n\n\nAllan explained following discussion with Dan Delisi\, Land Use Planning and Water/Environmental Policy Consultant\, that land rights that were established in the 80s and 90s in Lee County\, which go way back before mixed-use designations in the 2010s\, make it difficult to control the numbers of units being built.\nIt happens to be the case that Florida has robust property rights laws\, among the strongest in the nation. Once something is given\, it can’t be taken away without replacement value.\nIt doesn’t matter when Estero was incorporated; the Village inherited the land use rights given before incorporation.\nWhile that does mean the public and the Village Planning\, Zoning\, and Design Board (PZDB) cannot stop the developments on land already provided with zoning rights\, certain aspects can be addressed.\nThese can include such issues as Design\, Height\, Density\, Layout\, Quality\, Color\, Setbacks\, open space\, Landscaping\, Lighting\, Traffic and Entry/Exit Concerns\, Environmental\, water run-off\, and wildlife issues.\nThe citizens of Estero believe they need an opportunity to make comments at an early stage in the development planning process. 92% of residents said “Yes” to the question- Should Engage Estero formally request that the Village require developers to present their plans to a nonbinding committee (open to the public) before formally submitting plans to the Planning\, Zoning\, and Design Board? Engage Estero discussed this issue with the Village Management and the Mayor.\nFollowing concerns from the public that investigations into traffic flow around the Woodfield development (Hwy41/ Coconut Road) would not address the overall impact on Estero from the various developments taking place\, Engage Estero took up this issue with the Village Management. We confirm that a comprehensive traffic investigation will be conducted within 12 months. This will\n\nInclude traffic estimates for those developments on vacant parcels.\nWill incorporate the impact from areas outside Estero.\nWill consider the peak traffic density.\nWill include workers and services entering the Village.\nWill be updated every 4-5 years.\nThe intent is to identify issues and provide recommendations to improve traffic flow and safety.\n\n\nTerry Flanagan explained the meaning of mixed-use. This is an option that several developers have applied for as a re-zoning request. Contrary to popular opinion\, this has several significant benefits for the community. Mixed-use allows the developer to incorporate commercial business options within the residential plans. This helps to reduce the number of vehicles used when there are opportunities for residents to shop and visit medical facilities\, banks\, etc.\, where they reside.\nThe Village’s Capital Improvement Plan will feature road widening along Williams Road; River Ranch Road improvements\, East Corkscrew Road multi-use paths and lighting; Broadway West improvements\, Bike Path and Pedestrian improvements on Corkscrew Road\, Sandy Lane\, and Williams Road. Full details can be found on the above links.\nTerry Flanagan commented on the definitions used by the Village regarding the Village Center and Village Hub. This was shown pictorially (see presentation slides on the website) and covers the area from Broadway in the north to Coconut Road in the South\, Hwy 41 in the west\, and US 71 in the east.\nAttendees were reminded of the informative Public Forum in October: A Public Forum on Estero’s Future; Learn the Impact of Urbanization & Development and How It Will Affect Greater Estero. With Support from the FGCU Water School\, October 25\, 2023\, from 6:00 PM to 8:30 PM\, at FGCU’s Cohen Student Center Ballroom. You can sign up on esterotoday.com\n\nJohn Quin\, President of The Estero Forever Foundation\, then spoke about the Foundation and the developments taking place on the land purchased by the Village on the northeast corner of Via Coconut and Willams Road and the 62acre site north and south of the Estero River north of Corkscrew Road and east of Hwy41. \n\nThe Forever Foundation is a Non-Profit Public Foundation that mobilizes resources\, including financial assets and people. It encourages residents to give their time\, talent\, and treasure to supporting Non-Profits and other greater Estero Community organizations.\nJohn explained that the Foundation had helped to keep the golf driving range open with the help of the Village and with assistance from one full-time\, two part-time staff\, and eight volunteers. It has become even more popular with golfers\, who have expressed a desire to see it continue. It will likely remain open into March 2024.\nBased on the Village’s Private Public Partnership approach\, the Village partners with private companies to create and operate a service. This helps create an income asset supported by users\, not taxpayers. It is a shared risk with a private enterprise that helps keep our signature active lifestyle image.\nThe private companies that will be involved in developing recreational activities include Chicken n Pickle and the Texas-based High 5 Entertainment company. The facilities thus planned would involve Pickleball\, Ten-pin bowling\, and axe throwing\, to name a few. It is hoped there will be further public involvement to address the interests of residents. \n\nThe “Estero on the River project was also summarized. Purchased in 2019\, preliminary bridge and path planning was completed in 2020 -2021. Hurricane IAN\, Irma\, and an eagle’s nest delayed further developments in the park. The 2023/2024 Plan – Includes Invasive Plant Removal\, North of the River\, Parking and Restrooms\, a Bridge across the river\, Fencing on Corkscrew Road and Highway 41\, and One Main Walking Path. There will also be a walking entry from Corkscrew Road.\nThe Estero Forever Plan 2023/2024 will involve -cleaning up debris\, removing safety hazards\, and offering educational\, social\, and recreational programs at the Community Center.\n\nThe long-range plans involve: –\nNorth of the River: It will be the primary entryway to the South of the River Park by Bridge. Other plans are being discussed\, including a Village Government Center\, Commercial development on the river\, restaurants\, and a Cultural Arts center. Only time will tell. A lot can be done with 40 acres.\nSouth of the river: Botanical Gardens\, Educational Centers\, Walkways\, and Gathering / Picnicking places are all goals for the future.\n\n\n\nAllan Bowditch gave the president’s Report in Jim Gilmartin’s absence. \n\nJim Gilmartin spoke to the Village Manager\, Steve Sarkozy\, expressing the need for an opportunity to ensure public input on newly proposed developments before them being heard at the PZDB meetings. This should also apply to new recreational developments. While some meetings of this type have occurred\, they do not appear to occur regularly.\nTony Carangelo has been working with FGCU’s lecturers and students to help design graphics and maps of the Village that will illustrate where and what developments are occurring in our locality. This will provide hitherto complex information in a far more accessible format for residents to follow and understand. It is hoped that this work will be largely completed by early 2024.\nEngage Estero will highlight on our website esterotoday.com\n\nA veteran’s information section that can be easily accessed and provides valuable guidance on many issues Veterans require help with. Engage Estero has also been working “behind the scenes” to provide more recognition for Veterans.\n\n\nUpcoming Meetings:\n\nThe Public Forum on Estero’s Future will occur on October 25th at 6 p.m. at FGCU’s Cohen Student Center Ballroom. You can sign up at esterotoday.com\nThe moderator is Prof Shelton Weeks\, FGCU Professor of Economics and Finance.\nThe Panel includes:\n\nDaniel Delisi\, Land Use Planning and Water/Environmental Policy Consultant.\nRoss McIntosh\, Senior Commercial Real Estate Broker and Respected Speaker.\nSteve Sarkozy\, Village of Estero’s Manager.\nJim Wallace\, the Key Principal of Jim Wallace & Associates.\n\n\nNovember 15th at 6 p.m. at Estero Recreation Center. The meeting will include\n\nCodty Pierce\, Calusa Waterkeeper\, will discuss the implications of Urbanization in Estero and how we can manage its impact.\nChris Wittman. Captains for Clean Water will discuss the Threats to the Everglades and why that is important for Estero.\n\n\nDecember 7th at 5:30 p.m. The Estero Community Center:\n\nThe speaker will be Dr. Adam Molloy\, Director of Planning\, Growth\, and Capacity for the Lee County Schools. He will discuss what is being planned and considered in our areas to address the increasing needs of our children in a growing population. It is hoped that we will also have an additional speaker to discuss children’s future educational needs.\n\n\n\n\n\n  URL:https://esterotoday.com/event/sept2023/ LOCATION:Estero Recreation Center\, 9200 Corkscrew Palms Blvd.\, Estero\, FL\, 33928 CATEGORIES:Engage Estero Event ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://esterotoday.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Sept-2023-Meeting-1.jpg ORGANIZER;CN="Engage Estero":MAILTO:info@esterotoday.com END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR