Estero Endorses Proposed $13.7 Million State Conservation Project

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Estero Endorses Proposed $13.7 Million State Conservation Project

Estero supports an effort to secure $13.7 million of state funding for the preservation of 2,841 acres in southeast Lee County.

The village council on Wednesday agreed to send a letter endorsing the project, CREW Headwaters, to stewards of Florida Forever, the state's public land acquisition program.

"Your support really gives us a boost," said Brad Cornell, a spokesman for Audubon of the Western Everglades.

CREW Headwaters got its name because the targeted acres of groves and farmland are north of Corkscrew Swamp, which is in the vast Corkscrew Regional Ecosystem Watershed.

If state funding is made available, CREW Headwaters would lessen the harm caused by the degraded water that has flowed into southeast Lee's marshes for at least the last 50 years, according to project advocates. It is also in prime Florida Panther territory.

"This acquisition will improve wildlife habitat for signature species, including the panther and the wood stork," said Peter Cangialosi, who spoke on behalf of the nonprofit Estero Council of Community Leaders.

But the CREW Headwaters deal would not include underground mineral rights. That's because advocates believe money from the state would be better spent on restoration and acquisition, Cornell said.

Purchasing the CREW Headwaters land would have no impact on long-standing plans to conserve other south Lee County sites such as Edison Farms, Cornell said.

Edison Farms, east of Interstate 75 between Corkscrew and Bonita Beach roads, encompasses more than 3,500 acres of wetlands.

In May, Lee Commissioner Larry Kiker expressed interest in acquiring Edison Farms through the county's conservation program if the state makes no moves.

And Cornell said the Florida Department of Transportation is searching for conservation land to offset its widening of State Road 82 in Lee County.

"Everybody recognizes that Edison Farms is probably the top priority," Cornell said. "We can figure out who has money available at the right time to make the purchases."

In other news, Estero's council held a workshop to discuss a document that spells out how the village would create its village center.

Wednesday's workshop echoed one held by the planning and zoning board the prior evening.

Land use lawyers and consultants working for those who own land or want to build in the proposed village center area asked Estero to clean up the document's language and try again.

Months ago, those same consultants and lawyers asked for more flexible rules. At this point, their chief complaint is a lack of clarity.

"It's in everyone's best interest to create rules that are easy to enforce," said Paula McMichael, a planner with Naples-based Hole Montes.

Estero resident Beverly McNellis said the village's wishes must come first.

"If somebody wants to come into this beautiful village of ours, then you have to play by the rules."

Source: Naples Daily News

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