Cape Coral to further develop area along Burnt Store Road

Cape Coral has plans to further develop the area along Burnt Store Road, bringing more businesses, warehouses and homes.

The city wants to support the growing population by adding retail stores and offices, as well as more multi- and single-family residential units. The project goes back to 2015, when the Lee County Department of Transportation began widening Burnt Store Road.

Some neighbors who spoke to WINK News say they’re ready for the area to develop more, because all they can see along Burnt Store Road right now are a few houses and a lot of trees. Jordan Peterson, a man who drives down the road every day, says more stores along the way would help a lot.

“We need more stuff out here, like big supermarkets, major gas stations,” peterson said. “And roadways are still coming along. We had a lot of single-lane roads; bigger roads are helping people like me, big trailers and trucks for a roofing business. It’s coming along great, we definitely need Costcos and stuff, big name-brand stores. Definitely missing out on stuff like that.”

Cape Coral officials say Burnt Store Road is one of the area’s most important roadways.
With the city growing, they say it’s only right to meet the needs of the expanding population. The plan for area housing includes an apartment complex that would have 3,500 units.

David Chandler is another neighbor who drives down Burnt Store Road every day, to and from work, and he says he’s ready for the development to happen now.

“Since they widened it, it’s been a lot safer,” Chandler said. “I remember when it was two lanes, it was pretty dangerous. When there was nothing here, I lived in northeast Cape… there was nothing. Now, you have 200,000 people.”>

One of the things prohibited in the Burnt Store Road district is stand-alone outdoor storage units. The Cape Coral Planning and Zoning board met Wednesday morning to discuss the project.