Development Review Committee
Development Review Committee (DRC)
Chairman: John Smart
Responsible for:
Future land use and zoning issues
Residential and commercial development
Overview
The DRC is dedicated to enhancing property values and the quality of life in the Northwest Cape by reviewing future land use and zoning changes, monitoring development proposals, and advocating with government and commercial entities on behalf of residents. DRC stances are based on in-depth research into issues and the majority opinion of NWNA membership.
Click on the Map to view Cape Coral’s Interactive Development Map
July 25, 2026 Development Update
Coral Grove
Cape Coral Grove added another permit to join the ones for a restaurant, grocery store, and 12 small buildings to be built in and around the project on Pine Island Rd. This one is for construction of a 42,696 sq. ft. 1-story fitness gym. As we reported a while back, we believe the grocery store is a Whole Foods, based on review comments from city staff on-line. As for the restaurant, a recent Ft. Myers News Press article reported that a Cooper’s Hawk Winery and Restaurant is coming to Coral Grove with completion sometime in the third quarter of 2028. Cooper’s Hawk is known for handcrafted wine, modern casual dining in an upscale setting, a contemporary American menu, and a Napa-style wine tasting room and Marketplace. If you can’t wait until 2028, the closest one to Cape Coral is at 13671 Olympic Ct, Fort Myers.
July 6, 2026 Development Update
Featuring the proposed next-generation Lowe's plus updates on the development at West Cape Marketplace, Sonny's BBQ, The Meridian, and The Point at Pine Island.
A new modernized Lowe's is coming to cleared land next to Sam’s Club
We told you months ago we believed another Lowe’s was coming to Cape Coral, but we never expected it to come like this – as the Lowes of the future. A recent publication by Asian Realty Advisors, LLC in Ft. Myers, described a transaction in which the Dean family, of Roger Dean Chevrolet fame, sold land between the dealership and Sam’s Club on the north side of Pine Island Rd. to Lowes for $5.6 million.
There’s also a June 10th pre-application plan submitted to the city for a big box retail store with an accessory garden center on an 11-acre portion of the site. So why would Lowes want to build a store less than a couple of miles from the one they have on Del Prado?
Lowe’s has been scaling back its physical store footprint as part of a broader move toward improving efficiency. These new formats integrate online and in-store experiences, expand inventory, use more digital, and move away from traditional warehouse layouts. You may even see a robot or two.
Sharing the site with Lowes will be a Mid-Florida Credit Union and a 7 Brew Coffee Shop. At one point, a Portillo’s Restaurant had shown interest in part of that location, but no longer appears in renditions for the site. For more information on the new store formats :
Sonny's BBQ Returns to
Northwest Cape
In another move to keep pace with changing consumer habits, Sonny’s Barbecue has plans for a new restaurant on the parcel of land between Walgreens and Auto Zone at Coral Shores Shopping Center off Burnt Store Rd.
For those who have been around this area for some time, you may recall there was a Sonny’s at the current Texas Tony’s location on Pine Island Rd. several years ago. This version promises a forward-thinking model that prioritizes cost efficiency and optimized operations to meet changing market needs.
The new restaurants are 25% smaller than traditional models and feature a center bar, a drive-thru, a dedicated takeout window, and a kitchen reconfigured to expedite food prep and service. Off-premise and drive-thru orders now account for over half of total sales at Sonny’s BBQ.
In the same vicinity, on the property known as Island Pearl, you can add a convenience store with 12 gas pumps to the mix of hotel and fast-food restaurants in the plans for the Burnt Store Rd/Pine Island Rd. property. The convenience store would be located along Pine Island Rd. if the plans move forward.
Cape Coral Grove Update
Cape Coral Grove added another site development plan to join the restaurant and grocery store for which they previously submitted plans. This one is for the construction of a 42,696 sq. ft. 1-story fitness gym. As we reported a while back, we believe the grocery store appears to be a Whole Foods, based on online review comments from city staff. There’s also a plan for 12 small buildings to be built in and around the project.
West Cape Marketplace, LLC Update
We now know the identity of the convenience store going on the Northwest corner of Chiquita and Pine Island Rd. A plan was submitted in June for a Wawa with a car wash and fuel pumps to join the future Chick-fil-A at the location, now known as West Cape Marketplace.
Fun Fact: A plan was submitted for the development of a church on 5 acres at 2320 Diplomat Pkwy W., just a couple of lots east of the intersection of El Dorado and Diplomat. The property owners own a total of 10 acres at the site.
Hudson Creek Development Update
Forestar Real Estate Group has requested permits for surface water management, infrastructure and drainage, roadway, utilities, and landscaping for 113 single-family units at Hudson Creek.
They will join a previous request to improve land for 522 residences in the DR Horton development. Eventually, there will be 3500 residences.
You can now see some new work going on at the Hudson Creek development on the east side of Burnt Store Rd, just south of Tranquility Lake RV Resort site.
Along Chiquita and Jacaranda, you can see pipes positioned on cleared land as the developer will be installing sewer and water utilities at their own expense as part of the project. The project runs from Burnt Store Rd. all the way over to Nelson Rd.
Bones Coffee Coming to the NW Cape!
If you noticed construction equipment and some land clearing on the west side of the red-roofed Cube Smart storage facility on Pine Island Rd., they are there for the new Bones Coffee production facility, warehouse, and office structures. They will be located to the rear of the property with commercial structures fronting Pine Island Rd.
Bones features a large variety of flavors and is being sold in grocery chains along the West Coast and on Amazon.
They also have a tie-in to the Star Wars series, which has helped sales skyrocket.
Bloomsbury Apartments Update
The Bloomsbury Apartments project along SW Pine Island Rd., on the east side of the red-roofed Cube Smart Storage facility, is now under the name “The Meridian at Pine Island”. The project of 200 apartments and commercial structures is currently in the middle of construction and will feature commercial buildings along Pine Island Rd.
Speaking of apartments, the cleared land on the northeast side of Santa Barbara and Pine Island Rd., known as The Pointe at Pine Island, is to make room for 320 apartments with two parcels up front for commercial uses. Just east of that, there’s a proposal to put a Zaxby’s restaurant on the northeast corner of Andalusia and Pine Island Rd., across from the abandoned Golden Corral
Golden Coral - What’s Next?
That Golden Corral may not be abandoned that much longer as a developer submitted a proposal to renovate the building to make room for a multi-tenant commercial structure. Let’s see what happens.
March 11, 2026 Development Update
There are many Cape Coral residents who publicly wish for a Whole Foods store to come to the city, and they may have found their wish-granting genie in the team behind Cape Coral Grove. On February 17th, three site plans were submitted to the city by the developer. One is for an indoor/outdoor restaurant, another for 12 single-story buildings, and the third is for a 35,500 sq ft grocery store. Online notes by city reviewers of the submissions refer to architectural needs for a Whole Foods grocery store. So, we are assuming a Whole Foods store is in the works at that location. Coral Grove will have a number of commercial buildings surrounding the perimeter of the project area. Constructing a Whole Foods store there would put a smile on a lot of faces in Cape Coral.
City Council will hire consultants to come up with development plans for a property known as “Academic Village”, on the northwest corner of Kismet and Del Prado, and for the 318-acre city-owned property just north of Kismet on the west side of Burnt Store Rd. As part of the proposal, the consultants will invite residents and stakeholders to participate in design charettes to give their input on opportunities for commercial and recreational development. The goal is to generate new private investment, expand the city’s commercial tax base and create an identity for the city. We are looking forward to our members having the opportunity to participate and shape the future of the Northwest Cape. Stay tuned for more details.
A change in Island Pearl plans
The long-planned Island Pearl project at the northwest corner of Burnt Store Rd and Pine Island Rd is in for some changes. A plan was recently submitted by the developer to build a hotel and fast-food restaurants. Previously, the plan was for a multiple-use commercial structure anchored by a Dunkin restaurant on the Burnt Store frontage. This is in the early stages of the change process so all we know now is it’s out with the old plan and in with something new. No word yet on the size of the proposed Island Pearl hotel. The developer is currently focused on the construction of Victory Park, a massive mixed-use project next to the VA Center off Diplomat. That project includes offices, retail, apartments, and a 125-room Wyndham Trademark hotel.
A picture of the Wyndham hotel proposed for Victory Park
Hudson Creek development clears land
Speaking of growth in the Northwest Cape, Forestar Development has been clearing land for the Hudson Creek project covering about 1700+ acres running from Burnt Store Road all the way over to Nelson Rd. between Wilmington and Caloosa Parkways. The developer is paying for the extension of city utilities to cover the project. Beyond extending utilities, this project will have a major impact on the city as it will bring commercial entities to Burnt Store Rd., 3,500 residences, and some other features we will explain at a later date. It’s so big, it will almost be like a city within a city.
The view from Chiquita Blvd. looking east to Nelson Rd. at the Hudson Creek Project
Proliferation of convenience/gas stores in planning north of Pine Island Rd.
Convenience stores with multiple gas pumps seem to be the new thing for multiple intersections north of Pine Island Rd. A 7/11 recently opened on Diplomat Parkway. and Chiquita Blvd., while a Circle K convenience/gas store has been proposed for the northwest corner of Tropicana and Chiquita, where it will sit across from a long-standing 7/11, a Dollar General, and Mariner High School. Also, there are unnamed convenience stores with 10 gas pumps proposed at the northeast corners of El Dorado N. and Diplomat and of Santa Barbara and Diplomat. Developers only invest in areas where they believe a market exists. Perhaps that’s an indication of the growth we’ve had and will continue to have in the Northwest.
Forest Development submitted their pre-application plan for Gulf Gateway’s Island 7 on February 17th to get the ball rolling towards construction permits. It covers Phase 1 which is utilities, drainage and roadway infrastructure for Island 7. Their meeting with the city is to discuss the plan and permitting. Island 7 will be the first place for construction of buildings to take place and will include the community center with restaurant, splash pads, dog park and other amenities.
And don’t forget The Shops at Del Mar, on the north side of SW Pine Island Rd across the street from WMF Boat Sales. It is quickly filling up store fronts with a variety of businesses adding to what we’ve been looking forward to for some time … more choices closer to home. The same developer is building a similar concept called the Shops at Del Sol. Located west of Mel’s Diner on Pine Island Rd., it’s about three times the size of Del Mar.
Now that City Council voted to approve the contract with Forest Development for the Seven Islands, let’s take a look at what else is coming to our area. Construction is in progress at 2451 SW Pine just east of the red-roofed Cube Storage facility. Going up at the rear of the property is the 200-unit Bloomsbury Apartments in two 4-story buildings (down from 312 units planned initially). Before you roll your eyes at another apartment complex in our area, there will be room (90,000 sq ft) for retail, restaurant or drive-thru up front along Pine Island Rd. as shown in the rendering below. No businesses have been named yet for the commercial portion.
City Council recently approved $2.73 million in incentives for a new headquarters and expanded production facility for Bones Coffee, located on the west side of the red-roofed Cube storage facility on SW Pine Island Rd. Bones manufactures coffee in a wild mix of flavors and is gaining in popularity nationwide. The $27 million project will support 75 existing employees, while adding approximately 55 new jobs. The project is expected to be completed by the end of 2026 with a retail component to draw customers and visitors. Bones Coffee originated in the Northwest U.S. but the family moved to Cape Coral and established the company’s headquarters and manufacturing here. A partnershp with Disney, most recently with the Star Wars launch, has allowed Bones to sell their product in thousands of Safeway and Albertson grocery stores on the U.S. west coast. You can also find their products on Amazon.
There are two projects in North Cape Coral that should break ground this year, both of which we covered extensively. Coral Grove, a 131-acre mixed-use town center located just west of Bubba’s Roadhouse on SW Pine Island Rd., and a Walmart Supercenter directly across the street on the south side of Pine Island Rd. Groundbreaking is expected in 2026 for both, fingers crossed
Big Chiquita / West Place Marketplace is the name of a proposed development on the Northwest corner of Chiquita and Pine Island Rd. Many plans have been submitted for this property over the years, so we’ll see what happens here. The latest plans call for a 5,243 square-foot Chick-fil-A drive-thru restaurant with a dual-lane drive-thru and 68 parking spaces. The Chick-fil-A will be joined by a convenience store and a drive-thru coffee shop called 7Brew Coffee which offers a unique selection of coffee types.
Walmart in permitting
The on-again and off-again Walmart Supercenter on SW Pine Island Rd., across from Bubbas and Coral Grove, is now in permitting, a good sign that they are definitely in “on” mode. On September 10th, they filed a full Site Development permit, and city staff is currently reviewing and providing feedback on their request. If you’ve been following the Walmart saga, they’ve had plans filed on and off since 2014. It’s been reported that Walmart Corp. will be on a building binge nationwide in 2025. Combining that with all the growth in our area and building here now makes sense. The Supercenter will include 175,360 sq ft of retail space with a liquor store and eight gas pumps.
This will make that area of Pine Island Rd. a busy place as Cape Coral Grove received City Council approval last month of an agreement with the city that streamlines permitting and inspections. This project should be breaking ground soon for the building of infrastructure.
09-20-2024 - Long Term Projects Finally Coming to Realization
Another long-delayed project now has crews and an army of heavy machinery hard at work clearing the ground for Embers Lakes Apartments, located on the north side of Embers Pkwy. about 500 yards west of Nelson Rd. Consisting of over 1,300 apartments, this project had been in planning for a long time with permits approved a couple of years ago and still valid. For a view of what it’ll look like, check out the video on the NWNA YouTube site. Embers Lake
Embers Lakes Apartments Rendering
Another project that was previously hot and then went cold is the Hudson Creek development on the east side of Burnt Store Rd. from Jacaranda Pkwy at the south up to just below the RV Resort at Tranquility Lakes. As a refresher, the development included 2,500 single-family homes and 1,000 apartments, retail, and even a university. Whether those details will change is up in the air but developers have requested permits to clear about 828 acres of development area, install erosion control BMPs, excavate about 171 acres of lake, fill future development tracts, install control structures, and stabilize disturbed areas. You only do that kind of work if you’re serious about building.
Ground has been broken for the Sinclair Retail/Office Center featuring up to 10 storefronts. It is located on the west side of Chiquita Blvd. just south of Embers Pkwy.
The Shops at Del Mar is gaining more tenants. Papa John’s, Tropical Smoothie Cafe, VN Nails & Spa, and Capriotti's Sandwich Shop.
Updates on earlier reports:
Entering the permitting phase is the 3,333 sq ft Chase Bank on the corner of Pine Island and Burnt Store Roads, in the Coral Shores shopping center.
Permit requests have been requested to construct a 7/11 with a car wash on the lot just east of Bob Evans on Pine Island Rd.
Look for some construction on the street behind the Pine Island Rd. ABC Liquor Store and Goodwill. Terrace Village will be a collection of nine villas for retail and restaurants and are in permitting.
09/5/2024 - City Agrees to Purchase Embers Parkway West Proposed Storage Facility Property!
Agreement allows city to buy Embers storage facility property
At their September 4th meeting, City Council voted 5 to 3 to approve a resolution in which the City Manager will be authorized to buy the property at the corner of Burnt Store and Embers for the city. The price is over $1.7 million. In a rare move, the settlement resolution was pulled from the consent agenda only to have an up or down vote.
A three-story storage facility was planned for that plot of land, however the project was delayed for a number of reasons and then the city put a hold on building storage and car wash facilities until they developed rules on where they could go and how they could be built. The idea is to protect valuable commercial space along major corridors and find commercial prospects that fit better when they encroach on residential neighborhoods.
The bottom line for the large number of NWNA members who did not want that storage facility to be built and for the residents in the immediate area, is that the city will prohibit any and all storage facilities and car washes to be built there. In that regard, you can call it a victory. But, the city will immediately have the property listed for sale so some type of commercial entity will be built there. It just may be a better fit for that location.
July 22, 2024 - Burnt Store Corridor Coalition Update
Next Meeting: September 10th, 9:00 a.m. County Commissioners’ meeting at 18500 Murdock Circle Room 119
Local News Click Here
By: Alex Orenczuk
SERVING NEEDS: Burnt Store area gets one step closer to retail, medical services
Bill and Laura Fischer applied for a zoning change for their 40+ acre property on Burnt Store Road.
Click Image for Larger View
HERE WE GROW AGAIN SERIES:
The NWNA list of updates Follow:
August 18, 2024 Here We Grow Again Update
UPDATES ON
Goodwill Grand Opening
Progress on Shops at Del Mar
Retail at Burnt Store Rd., N???
Coral Grove Update
Update on Cape Coral to the South
June 6, 2024, Here we Grow Again Update Click Here
UPDATES ON:
New Updates
New Traffic Signals
Median Landscaping
Commercial Projects:
Parks
D & D Boat Ramp
Sun Trail Program
North 3 UEP
New Police Training Facility
New Fleet / Property Management Facility
Utilities Dept Projects
April 4, 2024, Here We Grow Again Update Click Here
Costco in the Cape? Is it Coming? Where will it Go? Will it be Northwest Cape Coral?
February 23, 2024, Here We Grow Again Update Click Here
As the new year gets underway, it’s time to take a look at what’s ahead in commercial and residential construction for our area in 2024.
February 7, 2024, Here We Grow Again Update Click Here
The NWNA, with the help of John Smart (NWNA Development Chairmen) and Sam Yaffey (NWNA Business Sponsor), is developing a series of videos to share with our members.having to do with our core projects. We are starting with an update on the Goodwill Store coming to NW Cape.
