VILLAGE CONNECTION – Village of Estero Planning Studies Focus on Community Resilience

The Village of Estero has two exciting planning studies that will be underway starting this summer, and both will be requesting your input. 

In response to Hurricane Ian, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded Lee County direct Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funding to support long-term recovery efforts within the county. 

The Village of Estero submitted for and was awarded funding for two studies, the Eco-Historic Planning Study and the Village of Estero Vulnerability Assessment. The grants are expected to cover the full cost of both studies. These studies will provide useful information to assist the Village in the event of additional hurricanes or flooding and will provide recommendations for improving long-term resilience in the community.

 

Eco-Historic Planning Study

The Eco-Historic Planning Study includes a 1,000-acre area of the Village along U.S. 41 from Estero Parkway to south of Williams Road, including “Old Estero,” Koreshan State Park and surrounding areas. The study will examine the unique opportunity to define the identity of this area, looking at the Estero River, historic and environmental assets, and opportunities to develop a master plan for more resilient and sustainable development in the future.

 

Village of Estero Vulnerability Assessment

In 2019, the Village of Estero completed its first Stormwater Master Plan. The plan included a comprehensive analysis of rainfall flooding within the Village. Since the completion of the master plan, it has become clear the Village is vulnerable to many more climate impacts than just rainfall flooding. The Village needs a more comprehensive analysis of environmental issues that could impact Village residents in both the short and long term.

The proposed Vulnerability Assessment will provide this comprehensive analysis by building on the Stormwater Master Plan and including other potential climate impacts, such as storm surge flooding, sea level rise and droughts. After the analysis is complete, the Village’s consultant will identify ways to reduce or mitigate the impacts from these environmental conditions.

 

 

Ways to Engage

Both studies will include multiple opportunities for public engagement throughout the projects. Residents will have the opportunity to attend public meetings or submit input through an online survey. Details of public engagement opportunities will be distributed through social media and direct email for those that have subscribed to the Village’s email updates (estero-fl.gov/subscribe-via-e-mail/).