Community angry over potential new high school site

Published: Updated:

BONITA SPRINGS, Fla.- The Lee County School District has set its sights on land for a brand new high school, but residents who live nearby are saying ‘not so fast.’

Neighbors say Hunters Ridge off Interstate 75 and Bonita Beach Road is a quiet community but their relaxing lifestyle may never be the same.

“We’re not against a high school, we know we need one, but right where they want to put it is like cramming something right down our throat,” said Hunters Ridge resident, John Simoncini.

Neighbors say they’re now hiring lawyers in hopes of halting the plans.

“We’ll have a high school with all the buses, the traffic, the noise from the football field when they’re playing football and the marching band when they’re practicing. I love football, I want to see the football game, I want to see the halftime show, but I want to see it and hear it when I want to do it,” said neighbor Fred Forbes.

The school district is looking at land on both sides of the entrance to Hunters Ridge. That means the road would no longer be used for people driving into the gated community.

The school district says a public forum on this topic will be held in the future. A petition has been started against the high school location on Change.org.

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