Staff backs rezoning of North Fort Myers site for mixed-use development amid school-capacity questions

Hearing Examiner Donna Marie Collins presided over a Lee County zoning hearing where Safe and Site Planning, on behalf of property owner Uniland Company, sought to rezone about 134 acres in North Fort Myers to a Commercial Plan Development (CPD) and a Residential Plan Development (RPD).

Applicant land planner Jennifer Sabin described the project as an infill site between Old 41 and New 41, south of Littleton Road, proposing 25 acres of CPD and approximately 109 acres of RPD. Sabin said the CPD could include up to 250,000 square feet of light-industrial uses (or alternatively 150,000 square feet of light industrial plus 20,900 square feet of retail) and that the RPD would allow up to 600 dwelling units with a maximum of 400 single-family detached units; an assisted-living layout was shown that would accommodate 360 beds (equivalent to 60 density units).

“Two copies of the PowerPoint presentation” and supporting exhibits were entered into the record, Sabin told the examiner, and she argued the plan includes buffer areas and a seven-acre green belt to separate commercial…