LPA hearing on proposed mobile‑vendor park at 2525 Estero Boulevard draws interventions, experts and requests for traffic, valuation analysis

The Local Planning Agency on Feb. 11 conducted an extended, contested hearing on a proposed CPD amendment that would allow a mobile‑vendor (food‑truck) park with a permanent support structure and shared parking on properties at 2525 and 2518 Estero Boulevard and 2543 Cottage Avenue. The hearing included applicant presentations, intervener requests, expert qualifications, the admission of submitted documents, and testimony from interveners and neighbors; the hearing was recessed at noon and remains open.

Why it matters: The application requests a Commercial Planned Development (CPD) amendment and several deviations from the town’s land‑development code to enable a family‑oriented food‑truck park, a two‑story 2,500‑square‑foot permanent support building (including a proposed walk‑up ice‑cream/retail tenant), a separate comfort station for public use, and a shared parking lot. Experts and neighbors said the proposal could increase noise, smells and pedestrian/vehicle activity immediately adjacent to existing residences, raising questions about compatibility, traffic impacts on Estero Boulevard and nearby streets, and potential effects on nearby property values.

Staff overview and changes since January: Judith Frankel, principal planner, told the LPA the applicant revised its master concept plan and conditions since the prior hearing to relocate and enlarge the permanent support structure (from about 1,500 to 2,500 square feet), move a vending pad up toward Estero Boulevard, enlarge the buffer adjacent to Pelican…