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Bonita Today: Revisiting the value of the Imperial Landing project

By CHUCK CURRY (Contact)

Friday, February 23, 2007

With his 44 years spent in Bonita Springs, one might underestimate David Piper.

After all, his family has been in the attraction business for a long time — the Wonder Gardens has been open since 1936, which is 10 years ahead of Walt Disney putting his Disneyland ideas to paper — and it would be easy to believe he lives a life insulated from everyone.

No true in any sense.

This past week's interview with Piper, who is just about a year away from losing his council seat in last spring's election, was not surprising for a successful businessman: He is smart, informed and has a good business sense on his shoulders. He said that he doesn't believe Bonita's future holds a place for the Wonder Gardens and envisions a future of gated communities.

However, one point of our interview was telling: Piper said he has turned down nearly three times what the city paid for the Bamboo Village property (soon to become the Imperial Landing public-private partnership of commercial-residential development) and that means he said "no" to nearly $9 million.

The interview brought to mind what Bonita Springs Councilman Pat McCourt said last year after winning a seat on council. McCourt was concerned that the city wasn't getting full value of the Bamboo Village land. After all, Imperial Landing is 5 acres or so and Piper's Wonder Gardens property is 3.5 acres.

Today McCourt says such debate is water under the bridge. He's not going back there, but does point out that he believes the city could have received better value for its property.

"I'm a big boy ... let's move forward," he says of the council's approval of Imperial Landing and not going back on its word.

McCourt doesn't like the density of Imperial Landing.

"it doesn't have to look that way," McCourt says, citing Franklin, Mich., as an example of redevelopment keeping a community's roots.

Yet McCourt believes, like Piper, it will be hard for the council to deny future developments the same zoning. McCourt says he'll vote his conscience on future zonings, but warns that projects with the same density as Imperial Landing won't win his heart or mind.

"They need us," McCourt says of developers, turning around a notion that the city needs partners for such redevelopment of Old 41 Road.

McCourt further says he believes Bonita Springs can retain an "old fishing village" atmosphere (although Piper disagrees). It's all a matter of what the city allows developers to do with their land.

"Do we have to give away density? Absolutely not," he says.

Along the same discussion, McCourt isn't a big fan of extended discussions on what he believes are obvious choices.

"I don't see any reason to discuss something that I'm not going to vote for," he says.

Of course, with six other council members, such debate is inevitable. But it is always nice to know where you stand with someone and McCourt is crystal clear on his motivation and beliefs.

I am not reluctant to say that both McCourt and Piper speak eloquently on their philosophy. Both have a bull-dog determination that shows how both became elected to office. It would be interesting to see them debate their differences.

• • •

A tip of the cap to the wonderful residents of Imperial Harbor. More than 100 turned out to take part in the community's first Mardi Gras celebration.

While their peers in Citrus Park had history and a bigger media contingent on their side this past Fat Tuesday, the residents of Imperial Harbor showed they, too, can party.

From the ladies of the Harbor Golfers and their pull-carts to gaily decorated electric golf carts, the community reveled on a wonderful sunny day.

• • •

Bonita Springs May Jay Arend and Councilwoman Martha Simons were honored guests of Imperial Harbor's parade, Arend continues to voice his support for a community services campus in the city. It might be a losing cause. Yet it is encouraging to see Arend continue support of an idea that isn't exactly popular in all the right corners for voters. While I might have a disagreement with Arend on the uses of the DR/GR lands, it is always easy to appreciate a politician who can try to steer an unpopular social issue to the fore.