Councilors continued the debate without coming to a solid answer during a Wednesday meeting. Councilors went on tangents as separate ideas came forward, leading to some frustration and confusion. It was eventually voted to have a facilitator lead another workshop to stop any off-the-rails conversations.
“I think more, at this point, you need to get down to basics,” City Attorney Derek Rooney told the council. “Maybe, perhaps, to take some of the personalities out of it, I would recommend a meeting facilitator to help you discuss these ideas.”
One matter was clear cut despite the cacophony of opinions: The waterfront should stay open to the residents.
A landowner’s plan to build a 700-home development in northeast Bonita Springs was stopped by the City Council during a Wednesday meeting.
The 328-acre property sits between Citrus Park and Bonita Grande Mines north of Terry Street and east of Interstate 75. It is currently used as cattle grazing land is owned by Dennis and Tamara Swan under the business name 3HWA Land Holding LLC. The couple previously owned and operated Citrus Park until they sold it in 2019.
Traffic, land and environmental engineers presented the project to City Council. They said the project is the Swans’ “vision to create a family-centered community to support the growing population of Bonita Springs,” said Brian Farrar, land asset management consultant.