Estero Town Homes: Toll Brothers’ Updated Plans for Sandy Lane & Corkscrew Road

What the Estero Town Homes Proposal Includes

Toll Brothers has requested rezoning of a 21.4-acre property at the northeast corner of Corkscrew Road and Sandy Lane to convert it from a continuing care facility zoning to an Estero Planned Development (EPD). The plan is for up to 171 two-story townhome units with a maximum building height of 35 feet. 

Here are some of the key design and site features:

• Enhanced fence and buffer along the northern side adjacent to neighbors.
• 6-foot wall with upgraded landscaping along Corkscrew Road. 
• A pocket park next to a lake, plus an amenity center on the site. 
• Two access points: one via Design Parc Lane to the east, and one via Sandy Lane. 
  
  

What Has Changed & What Was Approved

When first proposed, the plan drew feedback about height, density, traffic, design, and appearance. In response:

• Toll Brothers reduced height (35 feet, 2 stories) and refined architectural design and landscaping. 
  
  
• The developer addressed traffic concerns: the rezoning documents show a significant drop in peak hour trip generation compared to the continuing care facility zoning. 
  
  
• The board held several meetings with village staff and residents. By September 2024, the Planning, Zoning & Design Board (PZDB) gave positive review to the updated design. 
  
  
• On October 16, 2024, the Estero Village Council unanimously approved the rezoning to Estero Planned Development (EPD). 
  
  

Community Impact & Amenities

The proposal also emphasizes amenities and features meant to blend the development into the community and provide public benefit:

• Public amenities (seating, pocket park, landscaping) to improve neighborhood experience. 
  
  
• Enhanced buffers and improved appearance/ architectural treatments to reduce visual impact on adjacent neighborhoods. 
  
  
• Pedestrian infrastructure: sidewalks/pathways along Corkscrew Road and Sandy Lane. 
  
  

Timeline & Next Steps

The plan has progressed through several PZDB meetings, with public input, revisions, and design improvements.  After unanimous Council approval, the next phase will involve permitting, site plan review, infrastructure planning, and construction phasing.  Construction details and exact dates have not been fully released yet. Residents can follow the Village of Estero’s planning notices and meetings for updates.

Why This Matters to Estero

This project is a case study in responsive development — where resident feedback helped shape outcome:

• It replaces a more intensive land use (continuing care facility) with lower-density, for-sale housing. 
• It adds housing, but tries to maintain neighborhood character through design, landscaping, and buffered edges.
• Amenity and open space provision will enhance livability for both new residents and current neighbors.

For anyone following Estero real estate trends, this is a big one, both a signal that for sale housing is expanding, and that the Village is open to design modifications when citizens actively engage.