Featured Events

Introduction.

East Corkscrew is a hub of growth for the greater Estero area, and the choices being made right now on roads, schools, utilities, rock mines, cell service, and conservation will influence life here for years to come.

While Bella Terra and Stoneybrook have families with children, many of the current developments (Grandezza, Wildcat Run, Wild Blue, The Preserve at Corkscrew, and Corkscrew Shores) have many snowbirds – more than 50%. The new developments (The Place, Verandah, and Rivercreek) have nearly 70% full-time residents with children of school age.

The Big Picture: East Corkscrew is growing fast

The update below identifies homes built and in planning. We use 2.2 people per home as a planning assumption. At the end of June 2026, the number of homes surpassed 10,000. These numbers help clarify the scale.

What’s Happening Along Corkscrew Road?

(Village of Estero Effort) multi-use path, street lights, and landscaping.

The Village of Estero is making progress with its efforts.
Estimated completion is Fall 2026. Landscape irrigation piping installation was completed in May 2026.

The section along the Stoneybrook development - currently with no lights, no sidewalk, or multi-use path. Construction is stalled until FP&L can move the power poles.

There are no street lights in front of Aldi’s, the vacant lot, Self-Storage, and the water treatment plant. The contractor is coordinating with FPL to relocate the power lines and poles, enabling the installation of the path and lighting.

Concrete was poured on Friday, June 19th, 2026, for sections of the multi-use path in front of the open/vacant lot.

Landscaping in the median began in mid-June 2026 with the removal of the sod. Permits from Lee County Utilities to use reclaimed water have been approved. Irrigation pump stations are being powered up and tested in anticipation of landscaping being installed.

Corkscrew Road widening: Phase II is progressing

Completion is projected for December 2026. The eastbound lanes are in place with the first lift, allowing 2-way traffic while the westbound lanes are constructed.

Corkscrew Road Phase III and beyond: the funding gap is the headline

The draft Lee County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) 2050 Long-Range Transportation Plan shows no funding for additional Corkscrew widening over the next 10 years.

Brandon Dunn, Manager, Lee County Community Development – Planning Section, provided the following: “Lee County has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) seeking a consultant to assist with the data collection and calculations required to complete the impact study in compliance with State Statutes for roads, schools, and parks.”

Staff are currently reviewing these proposals, and at this time a consultant has not yet been selected. Therefore, I cannot provide an exact timeframe for when the study will be conducted or when results will be available. However, you should be aware that there have been recent changes to the State Statutes concerning impact fees. One of these changes requires that the new study be adopted by the local government within 12 months of the initiation of the new impact fee study if the local government increases the impact fee.

Therefore, once the consultant is selected and authorized to proceed, the study will be completed within one year.

Unincorporated Lee County impact fees were last updated in 2018.

Additional discussions indicate there will be no move to implement a sales tax for infrastructure before the November 2026 midterm elections.

It has been reported, “The potential for a sales tax was to help address the fact that county road construction plans call for $3.5 billion in work over the next 30 or so years, while existing revenue sources would produce about $1.5 billion.”

Most likely, a 2028 ballot measure could include a sales tax option. If approved, the sales tax would be collected starting July 2029.

Rob Price, Director of Lee County DOT, was asked if we could schedule the PD&E for phase III widening so construction could start when funds are available. Unfortunately, since no construction is planned for the next 10 years, the PD&E is only valid for 5 years and would need to be redone.

What’s Happening with Kingston Village?

Model homes are already under construction in the Esplanade neighborhood of Kingston.

Cameratta, the developer, is widening Corkscrew Rd to 4 lanes (2 eastbound and 2 westbound) adjacent to Kingston Village.

Construction has been ongoing for months, and on June 22, 2026, traffic was rerouted to the new eastbound lanes while work continued on the westbound lanes.

A new north-south connector, Kingston Village Parkway, will connect Corkscrew Road to State Route 82. The Corkscrew Road & Kingston Village Parkway intersection is under construction now, with a traffic signal expected to be operational by Fall 2026. Kingston Village Parkway – currently under construction - to State Route 82 is expected to be completed with a traffic signal at State Route 82 by Winter 2027/2028.

Kingston Village is planned as a mix of commercial, retail, and residential uses.

The Kingston Developer, Cameratta, has requested an evacuation or emergency access route south of the Kingston development toward Immokalee Rd.

The issue centers on a possible emergency or evacuation access route south of Kingston, toward the Sanctuary Road and Immokalee Road area. Audubon says the idea was presented as a private pre-proposal for an evacuation route through the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. On July 9th, the Cameratta Group of Companies announced that, due to public opinion, it was no longer pursuing this idea.

Audubon had expressed surprise and concern to learn this spring of a private pre-proposal to build a hurricane evacuation route between Lee and Collier counties through our internationally recognized Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. This concept was not considered as part of the approved Kingston development, and importantly, regulators did not identify a need for this additional evacuation capacity during that review.

It was believed that the road would negatively impact the Sanctuary and the wildlife that call this special place home. Furthermore, the referenced easements likely are no longer valid.

Any attempt to advance this concept would raise significant legal, environmental, and public interest concerns. We are confident that, if formally proposed, regulators will recognize these issues and reject a plan that would cause unnecessary harm to this irreplaceable sanctuary.”
As indicated earlier, the Naples Daily News reported on July 9th, 2026, that Joe Cameratta stated, “we are not going to pursue it.”

However, it is Interesting to note that a local Florida Legislator is again pushing for a North-South route between Lee and Collier Counties. Could this be the revival of the eastern route instead of State Route 951 going through Larry Kiker Preserve and Estero? From previous development efforts, we know Cameratta is sensitive to wildlife and nature and could work a compromise with Audubon going through the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary.

What’s Happening with East Corkscrew Schools?

Key Takeaway: Developers identified land for public schools, but the plan does not include Lee District Schools
The Kingston Village developer identified a parcel for a K–8 school. Lee District school planning documents indicate that there is no K–8 school in the Lee District's 10-year plans.

The Place, Verdana, and Kingston developments are in Lee District Schools zones:

ES Zone Q – Elementary schools (Bonita Springs, Pinewood, San Carlos Park, Spring Creek, and Three Oaks).

MS Zone GG – Middle Schools (Bonita Springs, Three Oaks).

HS South Zone 3 – High Schools (Bonita Springs (S3), Estero (S3), South Fort Myers (S2))
The developer, Cameratta, did their homework (existing and future conditions analysis) and identified the elementary (Pinewoods, Three Oaks, Irma Page), middle (Three Oaks, Bonita Middle), and high schools (South Ft Myers, Estero, Bonita Springs) nearing capacity.

True North Classical Academy charter school, for K-12 with 3100 students, is projected to open for the 2028/2029 school year (August 2028). Save the date for Thursday, September 24th, 2026, 6pm EFR Station 45. RSVP here.

https://www.tnclassical.org/

There is a parcel of land east of the golf course, owned by CLASSICAL EDUCATION NETWORK INC, DBA Optima Classical Academy. A charter school was planned for the parcel. This author has made numerous attempts – with no success - to contact the landowner to understand their intentions for the parcel.

Safety Hot Spots

Aldi’s, vacant lot, Self-Storage right in – right out

The Lee County Limited Development Order (LDO) and Right-of-Way permit for this development have both been issued. The Village of Estero requires this access before Aldi’s opens in December 2026. We requested that this construction be completed during the schools’ summer break.

The approved Development Order (DO) plans include a right-turn lane at the new right-in, right-out access point. Once this is installed, the multiuse path could be completed.

David Willems provided the following: “The contractor is working with FPL to get the power lines and poles out of the way so they can install the path and lights”.

The Rivercreek/Wild Blue signal

The DO required funding from the commercial property (gas station) and Rivercreek, with no requirement for Wild Blue, even though the developers had previously discussed cost-share concepts. The gas station has already paid $200k to the county; Rivercreek has funds in escrow; and Wild Blue leadership does not agree to the cost share.

Right of way for the traffic signal from the commercial property was secured by LC DOT at a recent Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) meeting. The right of way, from the Rivercreek Development has already been secured. Right of way for the traffic signal has not been secured from Wild Blue.

The Place/Pandion Golf Course

The Hoffmann Group acquired the Old Corkscrew golf course, rebranding it as Pandion Golf Course. Plans include upgrades beginning with permits and development order approvals starting in summer 2026, and the course will become private. It was also suggested to align the Golf Course entrance with The Place entrance and to install a traffic signal.

Commissioner Pendergrass indicated he has been in conversations with the Lee County Development division to work with the Hoffmann Group to align the golf course entrance to a The Place entrance. More information to come.

A condition identified in the development order will provide physical land for eventual Corkscrew Road widening.

Safety Concern: Need a 3rd exit lane coming out of Stoneybrook
Currently, there are 2 lines to exit the Miromar Design Center, CVS, Stoneybrook Community, and Stoneybrook Golf Course/Duffy’s Restaurant. The left lane is for left turns to go westbound on Corkscrew Road, the center lane is a through lane, and the right lane is for right turns. With undeveloped land in front of Stoneybrook, a 3rd lane is needed. The left lane is for left turns, the middle lane is for through traffic, and the right lane is for right turns.

David Willems, Village Works Director, reminds us, “While Stoneybrook Golf Drive is not owned by the Village, it is a public roadway. It is owned by the Stoneybrook CDD and is open and available for the public to use.”

Safety Concern: Reviving State Route 951
A local Florida legislator is again pushing for a north-south route between Lee and Collier Counties.

What’s Happening with East Corkscrew Road Cell service?

Key Takeaway: a tower is underway, another is planned, and a "coverage hole" is a concern

As with infrastructure requirements, cell service has been lagging along East Corkscrew. The following efforts are planned to support growth:

• Cell tower construction on the Bella Terra commercial parcel. The tower was installed on April 30th, 2026. The electrical inspection was completed by June 30th, 2026. FP&L should finish connecting power by the end of July 2026. The order of cell connection is Verizon, T-Mobile, then AT&T.

• A Lee County-contracted radio tower with cell capability on a Lee County parcel East of Kingston Village, with estimated completion by the end of 2026.
• Community concerns about a potential coverage "hole" around the FFD Farms (Development east of CREW, south of Corkscrew Rd) area.

We've seen Cellular Cat 5 Towers installed along Three Oaks Parkway and Ben Hill Griffin within the road right-of-way. To date, we have not seen any Cellular Cat 5 Towers installed along East Corkscrew Road.

Update from Jillian Scholler, PE, Deputy Director, Department of Transportation, “Cell towers installed within the Lee County ROW are permitted by Lee County DOT through the ROW permitting process. We do not have any information on future plans for these. They are submitted by the cellular company when they are ready to install a tower, generally one tower at a time.”

What residents should ask next to turn "updates" into accountability

To move the discussion past complaints, consider these questions that promote clarity:

1. Public vs. Private schools: If Pinewoods and Three Oaks Elementary are at capacity, where would my child attend in the public school system? How do I find out about charter school opportunities?

2. Corkscrew Rd Phase III+: What specific projects could a ½-cent or 1-cent sales tax accelerate, and what would it not fund?

3. Rivercreek/Wild Blue traffic signal: If the private cost share does not resolve, what is the Village/County's "Plan B" for safety in the interim?

4. What can be accomplished – short and long term – for The Place residents to safely access Corkscrew Rd?

5. Damage from rock mine blasting: Who verifies the independent contractor recording the seismograph testing/recording during blasts?

6. Cell coverage: After the Bella Terra tower goes live, what objective testing will confirm whether gaps in cell service remain?

7. Kiker Preserve: How will residents be included in access planning after the water project, and what decisions are actually on the table?

East Corkscrew is moving fast. Let us all keep the questions coming to Engage Estero. We need to stay informed, do our research, ensure our questions are specific, and continue seeking answers. The County Commissioners, Lee County Department of Transportation (LC DOT), and The Village of Estero appreciate our due diligence and engagement in answering questions and sharing information. The Engage Estero and East Corkscrew Alliance team has been actively advocating on your behalf. We are engaged with multiple levels of local government and transportation agencies.

Look for more updates coming in late October 2026.

Image Credit: This map includes data from: GoogleVexcel Imaging US, Inc.Data SIO, NOAA, U.S. Navy, NGA, GEBCOLandsat / Copernicus