Lee County approves Santoyo truck-parts site despite residentsconcerns about noise, elevation and air

Lee County commissioners voted 4-1 on Aug. 7 to rezone about 2.82 acres along U.S. 41 for a Santoyo truck-parts and sales store, despite extended public opposition focused on noise, elevation and potential impacts to adjacent residential communities.

Opponents told the board they fear the site will be raised and that resulting truck activity, exhaust and vibration would affect nearby homes. "This does not benefit Jonathan's Bay or anybody living close," said Terry Renborg, a resident who said his unit is 90 feet from the proposed driveway and warned that heavy diesel engines would be audible and disruptive. Another resident urged the board to deny the rezoning unless the site is limited to retail only, arguing ancillary repair work could expand over time.

Dan Delisi, the applicant's land-use planner, said the proposal is primarily a retail parts store with limited, "ancillary" manual repairs and that conditions have been added to the plan development to protect neighbors. "We've limited hours of operations of repairs, from 8 to 5, Monday through Saturday," Delisi said, and noted the design orients bay doors away from residences and limits repair types. He said service bays are limited to two and that significant repair activity will remain at the applicant's separate industrial facility east of U.S. 41.

Project engineers and the applicant also pointed to zoning conditions requiring compensating storage and other water-management reviews during development-order permitting. The applicant said those technical reviews and required state and federal permits will address drainage and elevation concerns.

Commissioners discussed compatibility, existing allowed uses under the current CN-2 zoning and the limits created by the CPD conditions. One commissioner noted similar noisy uses could already operate under existing approvals on the corridor; another emphasized the county's reliance on the development‑order and permitting process to enforce technical requirements.

The board approved the rezoning after a motion to move the item forward on the basis of competent substantial evidence; Commissioner Greenwell recorded the lone objection, and the motion passed 4-1. The hearing concluded with no further business.

Next steps: If the applicant secures development-order approval and required state or federal permits, the project will proceed under the conditions the board approved. The county will rely on its permitting and enforcement processes to monitor compliance with those conditions.