Developer buys $18.5M in land for Charlotte County project

A Fort Myers developer purchased $18.5 million in Charlotte County agricultural land previously slated for a nearly 5,000-acre residential and commercial development proposed by PulteGroup. 

David E. Torres, through companies he owns, acquired 13 parcels along U.S. 17 in five transactions between Sept. 5 and 11. The land represents only a portion of the nearly 5,000 acres that PulteGroup had proposed developing into a master-planned community some residents compared to a smaller version of Babcock Ranch.

The larger project site is south of the DeSoto County line, north of Palm Shores Boulevard and Washington Loop Road, and east of U.S. 17. 

PulteGroup had proposed developing the property into a community called MeadowVue, with thousands of homes, a golf course and commercial space. Roughly half of the nearly 5,000 acres would have been developed. The land is currently zoned for one residential unit per 10 acres. 

The project stalled amid unresolved agreements with Charlotte County, culminating in a February vote by county commissioners to rescind agreements related to water and wastewater service. 

Torres confirmed the September purchase and indicated that development remains a possibility. 

“I think we do intend to develop it,” Torres said, adding that he looks forward to “engaging with the community and its leaders.” 

He said it is too early to determine what form the development might take. 

Torres established MeadowVue Land Development Group LLC in July 2026 and Silvermine Companies LLC in June 2025. He also is a partner with Gary Haines in FL Star Development and FL Star Construction. 

The acquisition represents only a portion of the property included in PulteGroup’s original proposal, leaving the future of the broader development uncertain. 

The land sale drew attention at the Charlotte County Commission’s Oct. 13 meeting, when retired U.S. Air Force Col. Mary Ann Tipton asked commissioners for an update on the property. Tipton, who provided details of the recent transactions, has been among the residents opposing the proposed development. 

For the past two years, Tipton and other residents have attended commission meetings to voice concerns that the project would damage the environment and diminish their quality of life. 

Near the end of the Oct. 13 meeting, Commission Chair Joe Tiseo requested a staff update on the PulteGroup proposal. He said his understanding was that the project was “not moving forward.” 

The development faced a significant setback Feb. 10, when commissioners voted unanimously to rescind previously approved utility agreements with Pulte Homes and CSWR – Florida Utility Operating Company LLC, an affiliate of Central State Water Resources. 

The agreements were intended to provide water and wastewater services to the proposed community and surrounding areas. 

County Attorney Tom David recommended rescinding the agreements because required documents had never been fully executed. 

“If you do not have fully executed agreements, we do not have a meeting of the minds, and there is no contract,” David told commissioners. 

Before the vote, Derek Rooney, an attorney representing Pulte, said the agreements still required amendments. He requested an extension to allow time to complete and execute the documents. 

David advised against delaying the decision, warning that changing circumstances could “result in damages to the county.” 

Commissioners voted 5-0 to rescind the agreements with Pulte and Central State.