Lee County Commissioners allow density boost for Buckingham developer

Lee County commissioners voted Feb. 7 to amend a land-use plan, granting a developer more density than previously allowed in a rural neighborhood east of Fort Myers. The board cited a push to find more housing opportunities for a growing population and satisfaction with county staff’s approval recommendation following two prior rejections. 

The 130 acres are bordered by Orange River Boulevard to the north, Staley Road to the west and Homestead Lane to the south, all of which are two-lane roads. The land also connects to the headwaters of Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve. 

For about two hours, 34 Buckingham area residents each took three minutes or less seeking to convince the commissioners to vote otherwise. 

The commissioners voted 3-0 to approve the amendment, with Brian Hamman making the motion and Ray Sandelli seconding it. Cecil Pendergrass concurred. Kevin Ruane left the meeting early and did not vote. Mike Greenwell, whose District 5 includes the Buckingham area, did not attend. 

“We’ve seen previous boards of commissioners deny, without having evidence to deny, and they’ve been ruled against in court,” Hamman said. “And the developers have gotten millions of dollars—of taxpayer dollars—and still built anyways.”

Not one Buckingham resident expressed support for the development, currently called Orange River 130, and none of the landowners spoke at the hearing. 

Pinnacle Development Group, which also built River Hall near Riverdale, purchased the 130 acres in 2014 for $1.23 million, property records show. In 2021, Pinnacle began the process of applying to build up to 258 homes instead of the allowed 160, a 61% increase. 

About a year ago, commissioners urged the developer to further amend its plan, and it did, dropping the proposed number of homes to 248, a 3.8% decrease from 258 but a 55% increase from 160. 

The developer also increased buffers between the surrounding two-lane roads. 

Buckingham residents who listened to the development team’s presentation said they were not appeased by these changes. They reminded commissioners that they did not have to vote to approve. Some cited traffic concerns, which the commissioners said they are legally bound by state law not to consider. Some cited preserving their rural way of life. Others expressed concerns that flooding could be exacerbated by the development. 

Lodge said she and her Buckingham friends, most of whom wore red shirts to show solidarity, have to learn to live with the changes in their community. But she warned the impacts from the development could cause other, unforeseen expenses to the county’s taxpayers. 

“Of course, you’re going to learn to live with it,” Lodge said.