Estero Mayor: We like developers

Estero, which recently became Florida's newest municipality, has earned a reputation for well-organized opposition to new development. Now some developers worry incorporation will make it even tougher.

But Village of Estero Mayor Nick Batos says the municipality, halfway between Fort Myers and Naples in south Lee County, isn't against development.

“That is the furthest from the truth,” says Batos, speaking recently to the Real Estate Investment Society, a group of executives involved in commercial real estate.
Estero is home to the $85 million Hertz headquarters now under construction, Coconut Point mall and upscale housing developments. “We've never wanted to do anything to slow this down,” he says.

Batos acknowledges the obvious, that residents and developers don't always agree. “There are ways of incentivizing people to find common ground,” Batos suggests.

Batos also pleads for patience. “We've been in business three-and-a-half weeks,” he says. “We're in new ground. It's like trying to start a new business, but with 40,000 customers the first day.”

Estero is establishing two committees tasked to review development proposals, a process now handled by Lee County. Batos says residents will be appointed to review zoning and land-development projects and design. Batos says that formula has worked well for cities like Boca Raton.