A project to develop 653 acres in northwest Charlotte County into single- and multifamily homes, affordable housing and commercial use was unanimously approved by the county’s planning and zoning board April 14. The Harborview project underwent numerous revisions since 1992 to abide by changing regulations and laws.
The Board of County Commissioners will meet for an adoption hearing May 27.
Benderson Development is the applicant for the development near Interstate 75 and Harborview Road, north of the Peace River, south of Madras Court and Mauritania Road, east of Danforth Drive and west of Discovery Drive. It is near the Deep Creek and Harbour Heights communities.
The planned community will have three sections — North Village, East Village and West Village, the latter of which will house commercial development.
Jie Shao, principal planner for the county, said the community will have 3,959 units, 50,000 square feet of office space, 655,000 square feet of commercial development and 350 hotel rooms. Removed from earlier plans was a proposed public marina with 260 wet boat slips, 192 dry storage boat slips and 20 boat slips for single-family homes.
The open space for preservation and recreational uses was increased to 226.55 acres, and 61.21 acres were set aside for scrub jay and gopher tortoise habitat to be preserved in perpetuity, said Matthew Miller, director of environmental services at WRA Engineering, which is involved in the project.
The development was vocally opposed by more than a dozen during public comment.
Among their concerns were traffic congestion along Harborview Road, environmental and light pollution from a proposed large lighted sign near I-75 and the impact on wildlife, strain on utilities and pollution runoff into the Peace River.
Attorney Derek Rooney, of GrayRobinson law firm and represents the applicant, confirmed Buc-ee’s gas station and convenience store is interested in building a location in the area and will be bringing the matter before the board.
Buc-ee’s is much larger than a typical gas station with between 80 to 120 pumps, with its store selling merchandise, food, sundries and signature snacks.
Dreama Doolittle, of Harbour Heights, said Buc-ee’s impact on traffic and utilities would be significant.
Harbour Heights resident Laura Johnson said the entire project should be a “complete redo,” claiming the area’s sewer system and roads are inadequate to handle the increased traffic and water usage.
The local lift station has failed on past occasions, spewing wastewater into ditches, drains, the canal and eventually into the Peace River, Johnson said.
The developer is working with the Charlotte County School Board to plan a bus route and loop from Deep Creek to the school, without using Harborview Road.
Harborview Road will be widened from two lanes to four, and other improvements are being planned.
