Lee County commissioners approve rezoning for D'Sam Plaza in Lehigh Acres

The Lee County Board of County Commissioners on June 17 approved a rezoning to expand the D'Sam Plaza commercial plan development at the corner of Gunnery Road and Lee Boulevard in Lehigh Acres. Beth Workman, a principal planner in the county zoning section, told the board the amendment would rezone 3.9 acres (adding 0.75 acres of RS-1 to 3.15 acres of commercial plan development) and increase the site's approved commercial area from 25,000 to 40,000 square feet.

Workman said the hearing examiner recommended approval with conditions and that staff and the applicant had worked through access and circulation issues. She described conditions addressing access along Lee Boulevard, required improvements to 5th Street West, and restrictions to direct truck deliveries to Lee Boulevard rather than through 5th Street West. "This will be 40,000 square feet of commercial with with the rezoning," she said.

Staff also noted the property now sits in the mixed-use overlay and central urban future land use, which reduces required buffering and allows a parking reduction available under the overlay. Workman said the rezoning brings the whole site "into conformity with today's standards."

Staff listed three participants of record — Sherry Dula, Alan Sprat and Steven Teague — but reported none were present to speak. A commissioner moved the item and another seconded; board members voiced support for expanding commercial acreage in Lehigh Acres, and the chair announced, "No objection. Motion carries."

The approval is subject to the conditions described by staff related to access, off-site improvements and delivery routing. The county did not specify a next administrative step in the hearing record.