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Hearing examiner recommends approval for rezoning to allow car lot, with conditions, on Pine Island Road

Site is former location of Greater Pine Island Chamber of Commerce near Matlacha

By PAULETTE LeBLANC - | Feb 3, 2023

An aerial view of the old Pine Island chamber of commerce building and lot on Pine Island Road. PHOTO PROVIDED

A hearing examiner has recommended approval, with conditions, of a requested rezoning that would allow a car lot at the site of the old Greater Pine Island Chamber of Commerce office in Matlacha.

Lee County Chief Hearing Examiner Donna Marie Collins issued her recommendation following a Jan. 12 public hearing on a proposal to rezone the 1.4 acres at 3640 SW.. Pine Island Road from an agricultural (AG-2) to commercial planned development (CPD) district. The request would allow use of the existing 1,250-square-foot structure for sales and administrative offices to support vehicle sales and rentals with plans to increase the building to 2,000 square feet.

Collins found that the proposed CPD zoning will not harm environmentally critical/sensitive areas or natural resources and that requested deviations from the Land Development Code meet the criteria for approval.

She also listed recommended conditions for that approval.

“The County must administer the zoning process so proposed land uses minimize adverse impacts on adjacent property and protect County’s water resources,” the recommendation summary states. “Conditions must be plausibly related to the project’s anticipated impacts, and pertinent to mitigating impacts to public health, safety and welfare. The CPD will be subject to conditions of approval designed to address impacts reasonable by anticipated from development.”

To that end, “The Hearing Examiner recommends minor revisions to wording of conditions and deviations to improve clarity.”

The property, west of the intersection of Veterans Parkway and Burnt Store Road, “is located in a mainly commercial road corridor in a Coastal High Hazard Area,” the summary report states.

“The proposed site plan is contingent on wetland permitting and may require adjustment at the time of local development order review to maintain consistency with state permits,” the hearing examiner remarks summary states.

Hearing examiners provide recommendations to the Lee County Board of County Commissioners on applications to rezone properties.

The elected board conducts a second public hearing and makes the final determination.

Three members of the public attended the hearing examiner hearing and spoke in opposition to the project, citing concerns related to traffic, environmental impact and proposed project itself.

Pine Island American Legion Commander Aaron Bareda was among them.

He said he had several concerns regarding the impact of this particular business and location on Pine Island. He is especially concerned about potential impact on the environment.

“Essentially what the developers want to do is put in a used car lot with a car rental agency, but in order to do that, they’re asking for deviations on every side of the property,” Bareda said.

“We’re not anti-business, it’s just the wrong business to put at the entrance to Matlacha. If you have to grant so many waivers to be in business, it’s just the wrong business,” he said.

The zoning section of the Department of Community Development will schedule a final hearing before the board in the coming weeks.