The Local Planning Agency of the City of Bonita Springs voted 5-0 on Aug. 7, 2025, to amend the city's future land use map for about 0.66 acres at 4752 Bonita Beach Road SW, redesignating the parcel from medium-density multifamily residential to general commercial.

City planning staff recommended approval, saying the parcel's commercial zoning and surrounding properties indicate the current land-use color on the map is an error. Mary Tornberg, community development staff, told the panel the city's staff report finds the amendment "consistent with the Bonita plan" and recommended approval for the limited purpose of changing the map designation.

The applicant's attorney, Rich Yovanovitch, said the property is already zoned C-1 (commercial) and that the requested map change is a "small scale comprehensive plan amendment" to correct an apparent mistake. "We're here to correct an error," he said, and noted a companion planned development/zoning application for the larger project will be heard separately by the zoning board in about two weeks.

Opposition at the meeting came from five registered speakers, including an attorney representing the nearby Fish House restaurant and multiple full-time residents. Terry Lennick, attorney for the Fish House, argued the city's public-notice signage for the hearing was placed too low to be seen from the road and said traffic and parking are existing problems on Bonita Beach Road. Lennick warned that allowing a commercial designation could increase "intensity" and said that traffic from nearby restaurants already backs up onto Bonita Beach Road.

Several residents said the bay is effectively a residential bay and raised environmental concerns. Jesse Oloyski said the community sees manatees and dolphins in the canal and opposed changing the designation. Stu Young presented a depth measurement taken from his boat at low tide (3.1 feet) and said filling the bay for development would remove mangroves and natural habitat. Resident Susan Guyette said the change would "threaten the way of life" for neighbors and wildlife.

Yovanovitch and other project representatives disputed the procedural and environmental claims. He said the city directs where notice signs are placed and that the property is not within the aquatic preserve. He also stated that filling or other tidal work would require approvals from the South Florida Water Management District and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He told the panel that dwelling or commercial development could occur under existing zoning and that the comprehensive plan amendment was intended to make the plan consistent with zoning and the LEAP plan history.

Agency staff and the applicant clarified that the current item concerned only the future land use map color, not the specific development standards, uses or site design, which will be addressed at the companion zoning/CPD hearing. Staff noted the applicant supplied required utility availability letters and that neighborhood meeting documentation was included in the packet.

Votes at a glance: The Local Planning Agency approved the comprehensive plan amendment to redesignate approximately 0.66 acres at 4752 Bonita Beach Road SW from medium-density multifamily residential to general commercial. Roll call recorded Member Lombardo: yes; Chairman Lohan: yes; Member Townsend: yes; Member Material: yes; Member Hartford: yes. Motion carries 5-0.

The applicant's team said a plan development/zoning application for the larger project will be scheduled before the zoning board in about two weeks; there was no final decision in this meeting on site design, shoreline filling, parking or environmental mitigation.

The Local Planning Agency also selected Ray Townsend as vice chair and approved minutes for May 22, 2025, before adjourning.