Lee County commissioners approve three rezoning requests, including Pave Stone Fort Myers and Blue Dog restaurant

The Lee County Board of County Commissioners on April 22 approved three zoning cases, clearing the way for an industrial plan development, a small residential plan development and a commercial plan development for a restaurant.

Beth Workman, principal planner in Lee County’s zoning section, presented DCI202300037, a request to rezone 14.95 acres north of Aliko, west of I‑75 and east of U.S. 41 to Industrial Plan Development. Workman said the property — currently a concrete block plant on three parcels — would be combined into a cohesive development with integrated stormwater management, landscaping and internal roadways. The hearing examiner recommended approval and staff stood ready to answer questions.

Catherine Boyle of Boggs Engineering, representing Best Block, said the applicant agreed with the hearing examiner’s recommended conditions. “We are in agreement with the conditions put forth by the hearing examiner,” Boyle said.

Cam Mohammed, a zoning planner, presented DCI202300042 (Linton Road RPD), a request to rezone roughly 6.18 acres from single‑family residential and agricultural (AG‑2) to Residential Plan Development to allow up to 12 single‑family dwelling units, accessory uses and up to 14 private wet slips. Mohammed told commissioners that a traffic professional addressed the majority of residents’ concerns and described requested deviations to street design standards, including a reduction in the required right‑of‑way from 40 to 35 feet. “That’s a reduction that I found to be de minimis,” Mohammed said.

A commissioner noted that many developments include numerous conditions intended to mitigate neighborhood impacts; the commissioner said public input is valued and commonly implemented through case conditions.

Peter Blackwell of Lee County zoning introduced DCI2023‑00045, a 0.45‑acre request to rezone property at 4597 and 4601 Pine Island Road (corner of Pine Island Road and Matlacha Park Road) from C‑1 to Commercial Plan Development to preserve existing nonconforming conditions and allow associated on‑premises consumption. Blackwell said the original hearing record included 12 public participants.

When asked for the applicant’s name, Greg Stewart identified himself for the record. The clerk read the list of public commenters; staff later noted that all 12 written or recorded comments had been positive at the hearing examiner level.

Each case was moved, seconded and approved by the board with no objections voiced on the record. For the Blue Dog CPD the record states the motion was from “Mister Wayne” and seconded by “Commissioner Petrosky”; the board then adjourned.

The approvals carry the conditions and deviations recommended by the hearing examiner. The record does not include detailed vote tallies for the motions; minutes note that there were no objections. Further permitting, site‑plan review and compliance with the conditions attached to each approval will be required before development proceeds.