This topic produced an interesting response. While few were against the idea, the Village has work to do if it pursues this in the future, as many were unsure about the prospect.  

• 53% support joining the Village of Estero
• Only 10% said they oppose it
• 37% remain unsure

Among those open to annexation, the most compelling reasons include:

• Lower property tax rates (46%)
• Long-term development plans (43%)
• Improved communication and responsiveness from local government (around 18–19%).

  Taken together, the survey results paint a picture of a community at a critical stage of development. East Corkscrew is:

• Growing rapidly
• Largely composed of full-time, older residents
• Highly concerned about infrastructure and planning
• Supportive of advocacy—but not yet fully engaged
• Open to governance changes—but still uncertain

This combination creates both challenges and opportunities.

Nick Cameratta, COO of the Cameratta Group of Companies

Nick painted a lively picture of the many properties already completed. Each one offers something special to the residents. The quality and design were emphasized, and it is clear that the company has earned a very enviable, high reputation.

The new Kingston development was then outlined. Nick then explained the project's size and scope. The project is the largest development underway in Southwest Florida. It involves building homes on more than 6,000 acres, extending from south of Corkscrew Rd. to SR-82.

The project proposes 10,000 dwelling units, a 240-unit hotel, 700,000 square feet of commercial space, and 3,287 acres for restoration, conservation, and flow-way.  commercial core. Cameratta is working to secure various “anchor” tenants, including grocery, medical, and restaurant sectors in Kingston.  Anchor tenants are expected to be announced in a couple of months. Cameratta Companies is investing $50M in a new North/South 4-lane 5.5-mile Spine Road (Kingston Village Pkwy) connecting Corkscrew Road and SR 82, which will also include a 10 ft bike and walking path.  In addition,  they are currently reconstructing 2-miles of Corkscrew Road in front of the Kingston Development with outside travel lanes, turn lanes, and intersections.  

Michael Bileca, Executive Director and Founder of True North Classical Academy

Michael spoke fondly of his father and his perspective on what is a cornerstone of the Charter School's teaching approach. Namely

“Character is the most important thing we own, and it is our responsibility to develop it. In classical thought, the whole point of education was to grow in character and ultimately achieve wisdom.” Dennis Bileca

Michael spoke passionately about the Charter Schools approach to teaching and their hugely impressive results. Because of their significance, the key statistics are shown below.

Michael stated that the Charter School will NOT be a fee-paying school. Arrangements have been made with Lee Schools, and the County has warmly agreed to these decisions, making it a “win-win” for education along East Corkscrew Road and all concerned. Many attendees were eager to speak with Michael at the end of the evening, given the positive information provided. The school will be built in phases, starting with entry-level children.

Dr Denise Carlin, Superintendent of The School District of Lee County.

Dr. Carlin is justly proud to serve as the first elected Superintendent in Lee County in over fifty years. She was elected on November 5, 2024, as Superintendent of Schools for a four-year term. Given the school district improvements she highlighted and her philosophy of refusing to settle for “second-best,” she was pleased to share many of the public education accomplishments from her relatively short tenure.

• Central Office: $15.9M Cut implemented in 2025 and $6.5M proposed cut for 2026.
• The money saved goes back into the support for the schools themselves.
• Classroom Commitment: Student Achievement -Dedicated focus on initiatives to continuously improve student outcomes
• Competitive Teacher Pay: Committed to increasing compensation to attract and retain the best teaching talent in Lee County schools.
• FY27 Budget: $3.05B- Board-approved budget of $3,055,366,436.
• -11.41% Decrease from FY26 expenditures ($3.45B), driven by conservative revenue forecasting and enrollment alignment.
• Tax Rate: 5.271 Mills -Lowered tax rate, representing a decrease of nearly 29% since 2015.
• Homeowner Savings: Saves homeowners approximately $214.50 per $100,000 of taxable value.
• There has been a significant increase in Lee County student achievement.

There were many improvements in the performance of the schools themselves: The standouts are shown below:

• Teaching salary increases were the highest in Florida!
• High-Demand Pathways: Dedicated to offering career and technical education pathways that prepare students for high-demand positions.

Dr. Carlin made an impassioned plea to ensure that no one passes a school bus when its red lights are flashing. Drivers cannot be distracted by cellphones, searching for items, or talking, not only in general but especially in the vicinity of school buses! The thought of cutting short a child’s life is so horrific it is hard to imagine, but just one distraction can result in such an event. Dr. Carlin would like everyone to share this important message with friends and family. 

Many visual examples of Lee County students' success stories underlined the amazing facts shared earlier. A very impressive set of achievements for local public education.

Mark Novitski, Transportation Consultant to Engage Estero, and Member of the East Corkscrew Alliance.

Mark’s swashbuckling delivery is always engaging, and his focus is sharp and to the point. He expressed concerns about several important issues affecting families living along East Corkscrew Road.

• Corkscrew Rd streetlights, landscaping, and multi-use paths/sidewalks: Although there has been a fair amount of progress, this will need to wait until after the roads are completed.
• Corkscrew Rd phase II widening: Although the work is not likely to be completed until 2027.
• Corkscrew Rd widening from Alico to Lee County line: Although desired, this is unfortunately not likely anytime soon due to a lack of funds and Lee County's slow process for such developments, as explained by Nick Camerata.
• Traffic Signal: Rivercreek & Wildblue. Mark pointed out the need and the emphasis on achieving this.
• The Place and Pandion Golf Course: Mark has been in touch with David Hoffmann to see if this could be addressed by installing a traffic light at each entry.
• 3 lanes exiting from Stonybrook: a good result!
• Speeding on Corkscrew Rd - No place to pull speeders over
• Safe Routes to School: Mark spoke about the achievements of having the school buses turn into entrances of most communities, but not yet all! School buses should not stop on Corkscrew Rd, given the grave dangers to children who can do strange and impromptu things!
• Cell Coverage: Although this has improved, Engage Estero will be sending a short survey to identify poor service areas so they can be pinpointed for State and local officials, as well as the cell tower companies and service providers!

Chief Vanderbrook: Estero Fire & Rescue

Chief Vanderbrook concluded his remarks by noting the Fire & Rescue Station's independence. He offered help to anyone with a problem and said they would install a new Fire & Rescue Station at the Kingston Development along East Corkscrew Road.

Allan Bowditch also made final comments:

Thanks were given to Estero Fire & Rescue’s Jennifer Krohnfeldt and her team for their considerable efforts in setting up the venue at the Fire Station.

He concluded with “We hope today’s meeting provided valuable information and useful insights you can put to work. We hope you now have a better understanding of how Engage Estero can assist you and help address the issues that matter most to our community. We also hope you’ll join us again. Tell us what topics, issues, or questions you’d like us to address at a future meeting; your input helps us make these meetings more relevant and valuable to you.”

Bios of our Speakers:

Nick Cameratta oversees design, construction, and sales for each project. His responsibilities also include managing budgets and construction schedules, selecting subcontractors, explaining project details to builders and other professionals, and coordinating with architects, engineers, and specialists. He ensures the team meets project deliverables without unnecessary delays by working closely with other departments to prevent setbacks.

Michael Bileca is a former legislator, healthcare entrepreneur, and founder of a network of high-performing classical charter schools. Michael served in the Florida House of Representatives from 2010 to 2018, focusing on education policy. Michael is the Executive Director of the Dennis Bileca Institute for Character and Excellence. He founded and leads True North Classical Academy schools, which are among Florida's top-performing public schools. True North's success stems from its vision that moral and intellectual virtue is the true aim of education.

Dr. Carlin is a lifelong educator who served the School District of Lee County for 32 years as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, and district leader. On November 5, 2024, she was elected Superintendent of Schools for a four-year term. She is proud to be the first elected Superintendent in Lee County in over fifty years. Dr. Carlin is honored to serve the students, families, and team members who make Lee County so exceptional.