No development in Estero is immune to the attention to detail that has become the hallmark of the south Lee County community — even one as large as 500-acre Coconut Point.

For that reason, the lighting fixtures and directional and building signs will not be of the garden variety for the Coconut Point Town Center, a 120-acre retail and office center that is part of the sprawling regional development.

Tom Schneider, vice president of development for Simon Properties, Town Center’s builder, presented plans Wednesday night to the Estero Design Review Committee for curved, iron light poles, cautionary signs and muted green directional signs.

The volunteer-based EDRC acts as the gatekeeper for the Lee County Land Development Codes that are specific to Estero, specifically the architectural standards.

Nearly all signs for Town Center will feature the Coconut Point logo: a coconut half with rays of sunlight shooting out. Banners with the same logo will grace the lighting and sign poles, and they will likely be changed during the holidays, said Schneider.

The 30-foot light poles will be closest to the entrances of the commercial complex, and the shorter, 15-foot poles will line the pedestrian areas, he said.

EDRC member Wayne Robinson expressed concern that the lighting fixtures may not be compliant with codes to block light from other areas, particularly a neighboring community, The Brooks.

“It’s hard to find fixtures in a lantern-style with a full cut-off” of light, Robinson said.

The lights were configured based on a balance of cut-off and the number of poles, Schneider said. Security and safety were also factors, he said.

“Obviously, where you have a pole, you can’t place a drive lane,” he said.

The color scheme of the buildings, a mixture of rich browns, terra cottas and golden-yellows, earned EDRC approval. However, some members were concerned about signage.

Town Center plans to have a 29-foot pylon sign featuring the names of at least a dozen stores, such as Designer Show Warehouse, Pier 1 Imports and World Market. Some EDRC members questioned whether the sign would fly because the new land development codes outlaw pylon signs in favor of monument signs.

The signs on each building should also not be too busy, members said.

“We’re looking for a logo and store name and not a lot of signs for sales on product X,” said Neal Noethlich, a community volunteer in Estero.

Simon has pretty flexible guidelines for businesses, but it will all flow, Schneider said.

“With the terms that we have, they’re going to be great-looking store fronts,” he said.

Stores will begin opening in the Coconut Point Town Center in April, with a grand opening set for Nov. 10.

Naples Daily News
Naples Sun Times
The Banner

Collier Citizen
Vista Semanal
PrepZone

Coastalbeat
Set Anchor
SWFLMoms