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Commissioners approve plan amendment and rezoning to allow 100,000 sq ft commercial center along State Road 31
Summary
The board approved a CPA and companion CPD rezoning (SR 31 Civic 10) that redesignates 9.58 acres from rural to outlying suburban and rezones it to allow up to 100,000 sq ft of commercial uses tied to planned SR 31 widening and utility service; staff and the hearing examiner recommended approval.
Lee County commissioners approved a Comprehensive Plan amendment and a companion rezoning to allow a 100,000‑square‑foot commercial plan development on a 9.58‑acre site along State Road 31 in North Fort Myers.
Kate Burgess, principal planner, told the board the CPA would change the parcel's future land use from rural to outlying suburban and add it to the Lee County Utilities future water‑service area; state reviewing agencies provided no objections during transmittal review. Attorney Richard Akin, representing the applicant, said the rural designation would cap commercial development at 30,000 square feet under current rules; the CPA plus the CPD would permit a larger commercial footprint and connect the site to sewer via FGUA and to Lee County Utilities water.
"The plan here is to amend the future land use map to designate the property from rural to outlying suburban," Akin said. He said the companion CPD would limit uses to commercial services (no residential) intended to serve nearby neighborhoods and the widened SR 31 corridor.
Commissioners asked about timing for roadway improvements; Akin said right‑of‑way acquisition for the SR 31 widening is underway and the developer expects construction to follow market demand. With no public opposition during the hearing, the board moved and carried the CPA and subsequently approved the rezoning consistent with the hearing examiner's recommendation.
What happens next: Approval of the CPA and rezoning clears the way for development‑order review, design of access off the SR 31 frontage road and any required development‑order conditions. The transcript recorded 'motion carries' for both actions but did not provide a full vote tally.
