Estero plans land review

ESTERO — The Estero Council of Community Leaders has hired a consultant to conduct a study of the remaining vacant land in the area's commercial corridors.

Estero is located between Naples and Fort Myers in South Lee County and will be the future home of Hertz, which is building a new corporate campus there. The area's residents recently voted to incorporate as a municipality.

The council has hired Andrew Falde of Sabal Tree in Fort Myers to conduct the study so that the new elected officials can review it after they take office on March 17. In addition, the council says the information will be shared with prospective investors to spur new development.

In 2011, the council determined that the future of 1,000 acres in Estero's commercial corridors should be its top planning priority. The organization has conducted workshops to evaluate proposals for the vacant parcels.

Falde is principal and co-founder of Sabal Tree. He's also a commercial real estate professional with Re/Max Commercial in Fort Myers.