[{"_1":2,"_96":-5,"_97":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6100081,"mediaKeyId","2814581-fb20255ee7421e80cc3db165727d9436","parentId",2814581,"title","Board voices support for Via Sierra Trails project but cites budget gap, rising road costs","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",540000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2814581-fb20255ee7421e80cc3db165727d9436&start=540&end=540","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2814581-fb20255ee7421e80cc3db165727d9436/thumbnail_540000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6100081/Bonita-Springs-City/Lee-County/Florida/Board-voices-support-for-Via-Sierra-Trails-project-but-cites-budget-gap-rising-road-costs","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6100081-fa3425c05969d999e4dca201fdf6c1c4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771163009&Signature=LLSvhzmxDJNSylt2qKFWcJeM8zPJN3G~w3JLm3noL91kXSjL-BozYRtcO8HhJXNOAllQlXe7FXvjwmfEfrUd-dpnnlbdfm4fz7Yc7qBZeUKPNIJdOSVXuAz3g3TzBw6B5s1yYfcoxiLAd2kHFSMy9oGhSn1PGKOCR~lx0tb93nY4Rq84-pjIQcDo4RN~x0oJb34CHGD2Flhaphk3eDW9q4G4h~-XxvLopYets4AeYgAZ393M06cTMGiFa4MpTESZRqCYbRk86ZexrvOcNZj-q9vTTQ2qP5QbBhQfWjNh7M~039HkfUMrHzB7jHLkxIDzWDPfmLf8Ck~uAu1GGnvAXA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Bonita Springs, FL","date","2025-03-28T20:16:34Z","article","Lee County commissioners told meeting attendees they are generally supportive of the Via Sierra Trails project and connections to Midtown Avenue but cautioned that county finances and escalating project costs limit the board’s ability to add new spending.

The point matters because the county is prioritizing congestion and major road projects while operating with a projected deficit for the next two years. One commissioner, who described being new to the role and still meeting department heads, said he had not personally been briefed in detail on the Via Sierra Trails matter but saw local opportunity and downtown connectivity in Bonita Springs.

“The board is supportive of the project. I think the concern for the board ... is where the board is financially,” a county official said. The official said the county is “technically running a deficit for the next two years” but is covering that shortfall with reserves. He added that infrastructure projects have climbed in cost; as an example, the Midpoint widening project’s estimate has grown from $200 million to about $600 million.

Staff noted that support for quality-of-life projects exists alongside competing priorities tied to growth and congestion. Commissioners said coordination with cities and property owners will be needed for sidewalk and access connections; one staffer said planned sidewalks would be 10 feet wide and that alternatives were being explored to limit added traffic on Bonita Beach Road.

No formal approval or new funding for Via Sierra Trails was recorded at the meeting; speakers described current board priorities and financial constraints and asked for continued coordination with city staff and stakeholders.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Town Hall Forum, March 27, 2025 - Part 4","oneSentenceSummary","Commissioners said they are generally supportive of the Via Sierra Trails project and Midtown Avenue connections but warned the county faces a multi-year budget deficit and rapidly rising infrastructure costs that constrain new spending.","taxTitle","Bonita Springs City, Lee County, Florida","taxId",3827,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6100084,"Lee County says it gave Bonita Springs $5 million interest-free loan to keep beach renourishment underway",187,451000,638000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2814581-fb20255ee7421e80cc3db165727d9436&start=451&end=638","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2814581-fb20255ee7421e80cc3db165727d9436/thumbnail_451000.jpg","/articles/6100084/Bonita-Springs-City/Lee-County/Florida/Lee-County-says-it-gave-Bonita-Springs-5-million-interest-free-loan-to-keep-beach-renourishment-underway","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6100084-c1b0ae6a038dce8804eae6a08f5e605a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771163009&Signature=L~w9Uka0lWBnAB1aF1E55Xuyu7UjdInGh76l0VA7NaPUOGbukpBknF13QIwju9p0jsYd~prNnojVYcN4-HxCGPdFAyFtq4uvSsYGx22Isp8AmsOlbVPOmrA~3qjidIYAXbZvdjwr5Fi~OnrWiAt8j~KD-YkelLAtrCKI4htWR-ZpANV8428qXYMxv4DppQ~5akbxdgXk0em7C5-HWzP7XwVo1Y8NI2qHqqTd63VcUOn32LMXIBrNe8LeltC2RyTu2SeHHkhTokQQXvlw77u0o9kEEHK4D-Wqxw5aiV3zzqwl~7Gi4cONQdQRGNDF5aeYdZ2xi5dQWAUHQiZ76qLDVQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Lee County officials told attendees that the county provided a $5,000,000 interest-free loan to the City of Bonita Springs so a beach-renourishment contractor could continue work without demobilizing, and that the county later helped secure additional state funding for the project.

That assistance matters because mobilization for beach renourishment — which may involve dredges, barges and heavy equipment moved from other states — is costly, and demobilizing a contractor can add time and cost if equipment must return to the region later.

“One of the things I was proud of on one of our early agendas was the fact that we were able to with our sand project the beach renourishment project we had the team already working here on-site and we were able to help Bonita budget by funding we actually gave Bonita an interest free loan for $5,000,000 to pay for a change order work for the contractor to continue all at once while they were already set up without demobilizing,” a county official said. County staff added that because the project was shovel-ready and a contractor was in place, Lee County was also able to secure another $20,000,000 in state funding from the Department of Environmental Protection for the same project.

Speakers described why Lee County’s beaches sometimes reopen more slowly than neighboring Collier County’s. Officials said Collier County was able to share resources during recent storms, and that the Federal Emergency Management Agency reimbursement and approval process can delay county work because FEMA approval is often required before the county can move forward with reimbursable repairs.

One commissioner added that mobilization costs and strong local coordination let Lee County “stretch that dollar” and maximize project outcomes when resources are aligned.

No formal vote or new funding authorization was taken during the meeting; officials described actions that had already occurred and said coordination among cities, the county and state agencies continued.","Officials credited an interest-free $5 million county loan and subsequent state funding with keeping a beach renourishment contractor mobilized, and described how FEMA reimbursement timelines and inter-county resource sharing affect recovery speed.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":42,"_43":89,"_45":89,"_46":90,"_48":91,"_50":92,"_52":93,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":94,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":95,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6100086,"Lee County officials outline land-conservation gains, panther protections and wildlife underpasses",116000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2814581-fb20255ee7421e80cc3db165727d9436&start=116&end=116","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2814581-fb20255ee7421e80cc3db165727d9436/thumbnail_116000.jpg","/articles/6100086/Bonita-Springs-City/Lee-County/Florida/Lee-County-officials-outline-land-conservation-gains-panther-protections-and-wildlife-underpasses","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6100086-12405f1726bf0afd0608905f3b333392/orig.mp4?Expires=1771163009&Signature=NKyboT3oOa2QR5zFfIYw1elPplv6vJxV3mUwu9Iw4LFkD7BfmWNbU4lneiZzJMiM2jJeTJErpqRFJ~DUnReScWaLd4f4gJc3nHdGlQW~WsOpKDoFSWjJMnqnDCZGNmBCHKyPuzLLsLKy8iHWDiDj8mm6H098jYaPcFVwgPaKcZIoIDx8E~9FtGMeh74QEOam61cY8Pn-ejuXZrF5ajrv4Ydf-J2qsB88lDXp5uvBsIRTNnbXtBB8Rlkdez2meyiPAowohOuAa63lI3lXMthqIP~pNZO2sZQlgiWM--FguD1F76NsMO8ZJpwak0M~veYW3g9sYXGkqoB4QXM2JpLShA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At a Lee County public meeting, county officials described how land purchases, developer restoration work and road-design measures are being used to protect wildlife habitat — including Florida panthers — even as development continues.

County conservation efforts matter because Lee County is growing rapidly and infrastructure projects can intersect with sensitive habitat. Officials said the county’s Conservation 2020 program has purchased more than 30,000 acres since its start and that some developers are restoring wetlands and flowways as part of new projects.

“Let me take a stab at that. As you all know, Lee County has a land conservation program called Conservation 2020. To date, from its inception, we purchased 30,000 acres of land,” a county official said. The official added that some developers are now restoring former agricultural or man-made drainage features to more natural, “Everglades-like” flowways and planting cypress and marsh vegetation to improve hydrology and wildlife habitat.

John Dolmer, community development director for the City of Bonita Springs, said permitting for development in panther habitat uses defined categories and conditions. “When applications are filed for property that includes panther habitat, there's two types of panther habitat, primary, secondary, and each of those come with certain criteria and conditions that are required if a development takes place in either one of those,” Dolmer said. He said several recent applications that included portions of panther habitat were denied, while the Bonita National project proceeded under conditions that restricted where structures and certain vegetation could be placed.

County staff described measures built into road projects intended to reduce wildlife-vehicle conflicts. The Corkscrew Road project under construction includes multiple wildlife underpasses and fencing. Officials said the Alico connector — a new road designed to provide Lehigh Acres a third route to I‑75 — will include five wildlife underpasses placed where flowways and known panther migration paths are being restored. Those mitigation features are the product of permitting and design with federal and state agencies, including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Officials emphasized conservation easements as a permanent protection in some developments. One commissioner said developers who set aside land and restore it under high-standard restoration agreements often place those restored parcels in conservation easements “forever,” removing them from future development.

Speakers acknowledged limits: the county cannot buy all land desired and must prioritize properties, and some conservation outcomes require complex coordination among developers, cities and state and federal permitting agencies. Staff noted that wildlife measures on road projects involve substantial permitting costs.

County officials said the measures described are part of ongoing project reviews and permitting rather than new county-wide regulatory changes. Several commissioners and staff said they will continue to work with state and federal partners on site-specific designs and permitting.

The discussion combined land-acquisition goals, developer restoration practices and infrastructure-mitigation examples as the county balances growth and habitat protections.","County officials and staff described Conservation 2020 land purchases, developer-led wetland restorations, requirements for developments in panther habitat and wildlife underpasses on major road projects.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board voices support for Via Sierra Trails project but cites budget gap, rising road costs

Lee County says it gave Bonita Springs $5 million interest-free loan to keep beach renourishment underway

Lee County officials outline land-conservation gains, panther protections and wildlife underpasses