New mixed-use development proposed in Estero

A new entertainment and living experience is on its way to Estero, after the Village’s Planning, Zoning and Design Board approved a development order for the first phase of the Woodfield development project during a council meeting Tuesday evening.

As it stands right now, the Village of Estero has more than a few things to offer. Miromar Outlets, Coconut Point, the Hertz Arena and Florida Gulf Coast University are just a few.

Now, the Village hopes to add to that, as developer “Woodfield” has proposed a mixed-use venture at the northwest corner of Tamiami Trail and Coconut Point.

While it may not look like much now, the 46-acre empty plot of land will soon be home to hundreds of apartment units, retail shops and dining options.

The approved first phase of the project will include work on storm-water retention, roadways, utilities and perimeter landscape buffers.

It will also implement a roundabout at Coconut Road and Walden Center Drive.

The roundabout was the center of much discussion at Tuesday’s meeting, with board member Anthony Gargano bringing up concerns about traffic, given the Village’s 50% population growth during peak season in Estero.

Gargano expressed concerns about how the FDOT traffic studies were done, but board member Barry Jones stated the high growth was taken into account when the studies took place.

Board member Jim Wallace suggested amplifying the roundabout; but ultimately, the board decided the current design will work with no need for an extra lane as it creates another safety issue related to speeding.

The board also asked Woodfield for more landscaping, as well as an added fence adjacent to the Marsh Landing community.

The second phase of the project, while not yet approved, calls for a minimum of 35,000 square feet of commercial space, along with a central park, a US-41 park and a possible hotel.

If you would like to see the project renderings and plans from Tuesday’s meeting agenda, click here.

WINK News spoke to Estero residents leading up to the meeting who had mixed opinions, but everyone’s main concern was traffic.

“It’s a nightmare, bumper-to-bumper traffic everywhere,” said Mike Baklarz, an Estero resident.

Residents said it gets especially congested along U.S. 41 or near the Hertz Arena and Coconut Point.

“We’ve got a lot of development, a lot of traffic in the winter months,” explained Greg Palchak, an Estero resident.

Residents are worried that the new 46-acre mixed-use development will only make traffic worse.

“We’re just tired of all the development and the traffic, and everywhere you turn around, they want to tear down all the trees and put new commercial properties,” Baklarz said.

The Woodfield project is already being compared to Mercato in Naples, dubbed a “mini-Mercato” by some.

It promises a “restaurant row,” lots of retail, parks, and amphitheater and walking and biking paths which Palchak is a fan of.

“I like stuff; I like offerings. I like restaurants. I like things to do, so that would be nice,” Palchak said.

But even so, it’s hard for some residents to imagine another development of this size.

“It’s nice, but we have so much here already,” expressed Baklarz. “It’s just one development after another. There’s no infrastructure to support it. The roads can’t support it.”

Palchak likes the idea but hopes the board does their research.

“I hope they discuss the pluses and the negatives and give full disclosure about both because there are some negatives, obviously, but there’s a lot of positives,” Palchak said.