Estero’s Planning, Zoning & Design Board again sharply criticized a plan to build a 365-unit apartment complex at Coconut Point, advising developers to go back to the drawing board for a second time.
The board and Estero staff continue to share concerns about the plan’s density and height while adding new criticism centered on poor access to parking and other amenities.
“You’ve got a lot of homework,” Design Board Chair Anthony Gargano said. “You’ve got a lot of work to do.”
Coconut Point mall owner Simon Property Group and its multifamily development partner, Waypoint Residential, have proposed demolishing the former Regal Coconut Point movie theater and building a luxury apartment complex on the property from Cinema Way to Via Coconut Point.
At an initial meeting Jan. 13, the Design Board questioned the developers’ request to build at a higher residential density than Coconut Point’s original plans allow and to reduce the number of required parking spaces. Board members also disapproved of the apartment complex’s height in relation to the rest of Coconut Point.
The developers returned for a March 10 workshop to present a revised layout that reconfigured the project’s main elements: four- and five-story residential buildings, surface parking surrounding a five-story parking garage and shared outdoor green space. The new design reduced the total number of units to 362, more than doubled the amount of green space and sought to improve traffic flow with added access points to the complex.
But the Design Board largely reiterated its previous concerns, and added new criticism focused on the revised plan’s lack of easy access to parking and other amenities.
Board member Jim Wallace described the layout as inconvenient and impractical, especially for older residents. He said some residents would have to walk 600 feet or more from the parking lot to their front door.
“It really comes down to function before form,” he said. “And I think somehow function has been forgotten here. I think we would all say the buildings are beautiful, but it needs to be easy to live there.”
Board member James Tatooles offered a similar critique.
“I think this is entirely ill thought out,” he said, adding, “This does not meet the needs of people coming into Estero at this time.”
A site plan shows developers’ revised proposal for a 365-unit apartment complex at Coconut Point mall in Estero. The village’s Planning, Zoning & Design Board urged developers to redesign the project, citing concerns about density, height and parking access.
Estero government
Board members suggested alternatives including a parking structure under the apartments, a breezeway over the courtyard to connect separate buildings and a further reduction in the total number of units.
Board member Michael Sheeley advised the development team to create a new layout that gives residents better access to parking and Coconut Point shops.
“I think it is a schematic design concept that needs to be reworked, and I would encourage you to look at how the whole thing is put together,” Sheeley said.
Estero Community Development Director Mary Gibbs said village staff also are concerned about the project’s height, density and parking layout.
During public comment, Terry Flanagan of the community volunteer group Engage Estero urged the Design Board to reject the Waypoint Residential project because of its height, density and design, calling it “a sad blot on our lovely municipality.”
While the Design Board offers opinions and advice, it will not officially approve or reject the plan. That decision will rest with Estero Village Council.
Simon and the Waypoint development team, which includes Bowman Consulting Group and MSA Architects, plan to continue reworking the project.
“I think it’s very helpful,” Waypoint Residential Managing Director of Florida Development Chris Moore said of the board’s criticism. “Let us go back to the drawing board and come up with something that is more function over form.”