Bonita bosses pitch to create downtown Community Redevelopment Area
The Lee County commission decided Monday to hold a public hearing at an upcoming regular meeting on whether to delegate authority to Bonita Springs to create a downtown Community Redevelopment Area.
Bonita officials propose spending $15.6 million to spur business activity — $8.3 million for a centralized drainage system, $5.6 million for parking on side streets and widening Old 41 Road to create medians and possibly a roundabout, $1 million for green space and $700,000 for sidewalks.
Bonita would pay for it with county and city property taxes received above a base-year amount.
“We really pride ourselves on our partnership with you,” said Bonita Mayor Ben Nelson, one of four council members who attended Monday’s commission planning meeting. “This is a business deal that you will not regret. We are here to make you money.”