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Estero Fire Department previews 10,000‑sq‑ft storage building, neighbors raise wildlife and flood concerns
Summary
Estero Fire and Rescue presented an informational rezoning request to add 4.6 acres and a 10,000 sq ft covered storage building to an existing commercial planned development; neighbors raised concerns about gopher tortoises, burrowing owls, heritage oaks, floodplain impacts and nighttime lighting.
Estero Fire and Rescue presented a public information briefing to the Village of Estero Planning, Zoning and Design Board on a proposal to add 4.6 acres to an existing commercial planned development and construct a 10,000‑square‑foot covered storage building and additional parking at 21503 Oaks Parkway.
The presentation, delivered by Dan Delisi, land use planner for the applicant, described the proposal as an expansion of the existing CPD that would keep active station functions on 3 Oaks Parkway while moving ancillary, passive storage to the newly added acreage. “We’re keeping the active uses exactly where they are,” Delisi said, and noted a 100‑foot indigenous buffer is proposed along the western edge of the added parcel.
Chief Scott Vanderbrook of Estero Fire and Rescue told the board the storage building is intended to protect apparatus from storm exposure. “During hurricanes … over $5,000,000 of apparatus set outside in the weather,” Vanderbrook said, adding the building would not house day‑to‑day personnel but would provide covered space for surge equipment during storms.
Neighboring residents who live on Horn Lane and in Colonial Oaks spoke during public comment, urging more environmental caution and larger buffers. Julia Marchetti said she has observed burrowing owls and gopher tortoises on the site and worried about a new cement wall and loss of habitat. Joe Regill and others noted the parcel lies within a floodplain and said recent flooding in their backyards makes drainage a central concern.
Applicant engineers said they will use dry detention and compensating storage to address floodplain requirements and that existing indigenous areas would be used to satisfy preservation standards. John Boydock, the project engineer, said the preserve area “exceeds the indigenous requirement.” The applicant also said accessory uses are already allowed under the CPD and that the storage building is intended solely for equipment and logistics rather than regular public access.
The meeting was an informational session; no vote was required or taken. Staff and the applicant said they will continue detailed design and meet with neighbors prior to any formal application.
The board closed public comment and moved to the next agenda item. The formal rezoning and permit applications will be subject to staff review, required environmental analyses and later public hearings.
