Lee officials advance 192-acre residential, commercial plan in Alva

The developer Neal Communities is planning to build a new 192.3-acre mixed-use community sandwiched between public preservation lands and the eastern edge of a Lee County rural property in Alva.

Lee Commissioners at a public hearing Sept. 2 voted 3-1 to advance Neal’s plan, with Commissioner David Mulicka casting a dissenting vote.

Mulicka shared concerns voiced by other officials and nearby residents that the development isn’t consistent with northeast Lee and Alva’s rural community characteristics and could negatively impact Hickey Creek Mitigation Park, an adjoining preserve.

“I just think we’re doing too much, and it’s not consistent with the community plans, in my opinion,” he said. “I think we’re just pushing too far.”

The county commissioners’ vote advances Neal’s request to change the eastern part of its property — about 93 acres — from a Rural to Sub-Outlying Suburban land-use designation and double residential density from one to two units per acre.

The western part of the property already holds an Urban Community land-use designation that is sufficient for Neal’s plan.

The vote transmits the plan to state officials for a review before coming back to county commissioners, at a meeting date to be determined, for their final approval to adopt the plan.

The change would allow Neal to build its proposed 690 single-family and townhome-style residences with up to 50,000 square feet of commercial space. It also incorporates the property into the Lee County Utilities water and sewer service area, required of suburban developments of its size.

Identified as the Caloosa 80 project, it sits at the corner of State Road 80 (Palm Beach Boulevard) and Bateman Road. The site includes pastureland, pine flatwoods, palmetto prairie and wetlands. 

Commissioner Kevin Ruane didn’t vote Sept. 2 since he left the meeting early for a medical procedure. But he raised concerns that the development “is legally not compatible” since it’s next to Hickey Creek.

At an earlier public hearing in April, the Lee Local Planning Agency also recommended approval of Neal’s plan by a 3-2 vote.

Neal will also need to get the county commissioners’ approval on a separate zoning change. The property is currently zoned for a Recreational Vehicle Park with up to 417 RVs. 

LPA members and area residents also raised concerns that the area is Florida panther habitat. A public speaker Sept. 2 said that camera footage documents panthers using the land. The developer would also need a permit to relocate gopher tortoises from the site to nearby areas.

The developer’s representatives said extensive buffers, setbacks and open space on the Caloosa 80 property would allow sufficient space for area wildlife.