Back in December Gulfshore Business wrote about Estero planners who were working with landowners to create a mixed-use village center anchored by a health campus. Today the village is that much closer to turning plans into actuality.

Estero Village city council members approved rezoning of a continued care facility in its 21.36-acre Corkscrew Road project. The facility will be located at the corner of Sandy Lane and is expected to include a maximum of 340 beds and 15,000 square feet of complimentary medical office.

What was previously intended to be 200,000-square-feet of office and retail space will now be developed into a project that offers reduction in intensity and traffic.

“This was a very important accomplishment for the city,” said Adam Palmer, managing director of office and investment services for LandQwest Commercial, in a press release. “Many inside and out of the industry have been pessimistic about getting new entitlements for development in Estero.  This rezoning will prove that if the project makes sense, the city is not going to stand in the way.”

The buyer for the property, Volunteers of America, aims at reducing homelessness, hospitalization and institutionalization through various programs across 41 Florida counties and in Puerto Rico.  Volunteers of America hope to break ground on the project in 2017. For more information, visit www.lqwest.com.