Bonita Springs, developer reach deal on condo project

Bonita Springs and the developer seeking to build a condo community at the northeast corner of Matheson Avenue and Dean Street reached a compromise.

Sagamore Management Co. and the city announced they reached an agreement through mediation.

City Council unanimously approved the agreement Sept. 17 with little comment. A final public hearing is scheduled for Oct. 15.

Sagamore agreed to reduce the project’s density from 48 units to 42 and widen driveways for each building to 24 feet. Each garage will allow space for a vehicle, as well as garbage and recycling totes.

Units along Dean Street will have front-facing facades, and the plan includes a southern sidewalk connection to Matheson Avenue.

The amenity area will exclude racket sports, while landscaping buffers of 7 feet, 5 inches will be added along the north and east property lines.

The agreement also leaves open the possibility of relocating the Matheson Avenue access during the development order process.

Council voted 4-3 against the project in April, when the developer sought to build 24 duplexes on 4.6 acres. The planning board voted 4-1 against it last November.

The council’s decision ultimately hinged on density, with opponents arguing that 48 units was too many, even though the proposal met the city’s maximum units-per-acre limit.

Richard Forman, president of Sagamore Management Co., did not speak at the Sept. 17 meeting. In earlier presentations, he said Bonita Springs needs more workforce housing and that the project required a higher number of units to remain financially viable.

Most of the neighbors who spoke at previous meetings were against the number of units Forman sought.