Votes at a glance: Lee County approves easement vacation, housing bonds and roadway improvements
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Summary
The Lee County Board approved several routine and project-specific items Nov. 18, 2025, including a petition to vacate county interest in a Coconut Road right-of-way, two Housing Finance Authority bond approvals (up to $27M and $20M) and a DOT-supported roadway improvement project; commissioners also confirmed multiple appointments and authorized designees for an intercounty conflict-resolution process.
During the Nov. 18 meeting the Board of County Commissioners approved multiple formal actions described below.
Vacate county right-of-way (Pelican Landing): Staff summarized a petition from the Pelican Landing Community Association to vacate about 700 feet of a 50-foot right-of-way at 5450 Coconut Road in Bonita Springs to allow the association to maintain and upgrade the roadway. Staff reported no public use was intended for the property and no objections from utility providers. A commissioner moved approval, a second was recorded and the board carried the motion with no objection.
Housing Finance Authority bond approvals: The board adopted two resolutions consenting to the issuance of multifamily mortgage revenue bonds by the Housing Finance Authority of Lee County: up to $27,000,000 for the Amarillo’s Park Place project (in Sarasota) and up to $20,000,000 for the Pine Echo apartment project (North Fort Myers). County staff noted these bonds are required to be approved under state and federal law but do not constitute county debt or financial liability.
Lee Boulevard roadway project (Lehigh Acres): Rob Price of DOT presented a public-private cooperation project to build a signalized intersection and turn lanes at Lee Boulevard in Sunnyland, Lehigh Acres, with the county paying developer WMG Acquisitions LLC to construct county roadway improvements. The board moved, seconded and approved the item; staff stated the project meets criteria under the cited public-private construction statutes.
Appointments and designees: Commissioners approved multiple advisory-board and committee appointments and reappointments by voice vote. The county attorney's office also asked the board to appoint two designees (a commissioner and the county manager) to represent Lee County in an early conflict-assessment phase under the Florida Governmental Conflict Resolution Act (chapter 164, Florida Statutes) related to Charlotte County’s petition over the Boca Grande parking ordinance; the board approved the request and authorized the county manager to coordinate scheduling.
Why it matters: These approvals move forward capital projects and housing developments that utilize state and local approvals and affect infrastructure and affordable-housing financing mechanisms. The county’s consent to bond issuance does not create direct county debt but is a required procedural approval.
Next steps: Staff will coordinate implementation of the roadway improvements with the developer, and the county manager and designated commissioner will enter early-phase discussions with Charlotte County on the conflict-resolution matter if that process proceeds.
