A public information meeting took place Feb. 13 for a development order to construct Phase 1 of the 45.6-acre Woodfield Estero mixed-use development project on the northwest corner of U.S. 41 and Coconut Road.
The zoning for the project was approved in July, with the development order now addressing architecture and layout.
“The first phase is some of the apartment buildings by U.S. 41, some of the mixed-use commercial and then the perimeter buffers and landscaping,” Community Development Director Mary Gibbs said.
The development team addressed the Estero Planning, Zoning and Design Board’s previous comments related to architecture, design and public spaces in the development, which is intended to be a walkable community and a major attraction in the village.
Woodfield Estero is planned for 596 dwelling units, which will be a mix of townhomes and multifamily units dispersed throughout the site. There also will be 42,000 square feet of medical office, 82,000 square feet of retail, 260 hotel rooms and 6,000 square feet of civic space.
“Over the last seven months, we’ve really put a lot of effort into the architecture and in the landscape architecture and those placemaking elements to make this a place that the village and residents and guests want to come and spend their day,” Woodfield Development’s Ross Abramson said.
Considering the size and location of the project, the board sought architectural design that would help break up the mass of the buildings.
“We’re just really trying to make every facade of the building a different experience and the pushing and pulling of the facade and the roofline, so it didn’t look like one large building,” Abramson said.
Architect for the project, Walter Hughes with Humphreys & Partners, said the variety of architecture from arches and articulation to towers and different balconies breaks up the elevation.
While the board was impressed with the design the team brought back, there was still comment on breaking up the building further and adding more depth to the Coconut Road elevation of the project.
The incorporation of more color was suggested to add more depth, as the current proposed colors are pure white, a la mode, Tony Taupe and bronze.
“We have a lot of color in Estero,” board member Michael Sheeley said. “I would encourage you to look at maybe adding some color because it’s fairly monochromatic overall.”
The landscape architect for the project is Boca Raton-based landscape architect Mark Jacobson. The landscaping focuses on colors, textures and even smells, Jacobson said. The plan includes palm and flowering trees, hedges, flowering plants, tropical foliage, seat walls, raised planters and bougainvillea trellises.
“I love all the variety,” board member Kristin Jeannin said. “I love that you’re using so many different landscape elements to create features throughout this site. I think it’s going to be fantastic for the community.”
Discussion of a roundabout or traffic signal at the intersection of Coconut Road and Walden Center Drive and parking throughout the site is ongoing.
So far, if sufficient right of way is available and a roundabout is elected by the village, the roundabout will be constructed in the existing right of way.
As for public parking, there was discussion on whether it will be paid or unpaid parking. Board member Barry Jones advised the development team about the mentality of paying for parking being different in comparison to the east coast of the state.
No vote is taken at public information meetings.
