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Officials: Bonita Grande widening would require permits, property purchases and funding
Summary
At a Bonita Springs City town hall, county and city officials told residents widening Bonita Grande to four lanes is not planned and would depend on funding, permits and acquiring private property; the county said it will not assume the private road.
At a town hall in Bonita Springs City, county and city officials told residents that widening Bonita Grande to four lanes is not planned and would require substantial funding, permit approvals and likely property acquisition.
Residents asked whether Lee County would take over the road between Logan Circle and Union National and whether the county could widen Bonita Grande. County staff said the county “does not have plans to 4 lane Bonita Grande” and that the county does not plan to take over that stretch. A resident clarified during the meeting that the section in question is a private road.
The county and city officials explained there is no longer a regulatory transportation concurrency mechanism that would have made it simpler to require or partner with developers to pay for road widening. “We don’t have regulatory concurrency anymore,” a county staff member said, describing why partnerships that once tied development approval to road upgrades are no longer available.
Officials stressed feasibility depends on money, permits and right-of-way. “Anything is possible with money,” the county staff member said. Lee County Commissioner (District 3) added that widening existing roadway segments will likely require taking private property: “You can’t…widen existing right away without taking property to do it, sir.”
City and county staff recommended that residents raise specific parcels during upcoming comprehensive plan and land-development code update meetings so staff can consider connectivity and future right-of-way needs. The commissioner closed the Q&A by providing a district email for follow-up, saying he would return for additional meetings later in the month.
Why this matters: Bonita Grande is among corridors residents flagged for congestion and drainage concerns; without a current county plan, any multi-lane widening would require financing, permitting and negotiations over privately held property.
