Live updates from Patrick Riley

3rd & 7 37yd

Moderator again reiterates that the site is being proposed by the Lee County school board and not the city.

by PatJRiley via twitter 11/2/2015 10:10:32 PM
Lawyer Sawyer Smith asks to what degree city staff has been involved in process.

by PatJRiley via twitter 11/2/2015 10:08:58 PM
One question from crowd: How many of 1,800 students will be from Bonita Springs? Somebody else: Less than 10 percent.

by PatJRiley via twitter 11/2/2015 10:07:36 PM
Again these are mostly questions for the school board. This looks to be one helluva meeting next Monday.

by PatJRiley via twitter 11/2/2015 10:06:45 PM
Another resident asks if the school can't be built in Estero since the school board already owns land there.

by PatJRiley via twitter 11/2/2015 10:05:49 PM
Same resident says "deals are done in backrooms" and over drinks.

by PatJRiley via twitter 11/2/2015 10:05:24 PM
One resident says while he appreciates info from city, meeting has "raised more questions and created more angst."

by PatJRiley via twitter 11/2/2015 10:05:00 PM
Dulmer says site meets zoning for all but one parcel. That parcel would need approval from city council to be rezoned.

by PatJRiley via twitter 11/2/2015 10:02:48 PM
One resident says "this is going to totally exasperate our only entrance to 75." Applause from crowd.

by PatJRiley via twitter 11/2/2015 10:01:54 PM
Many residents now concerned about lights from football field. Moderator says that's a school board question. That meeting is Nov. 9.

by PatJRiley via twitter 11/2/2015 9:59:18 PM
Meeting getting more and more tense now. Lots of sarcastic laughs from crowd.

by PatJRiley via twitter 11/2/2015 9:58:31 PM
"We deserve a HS," says Schwing. "And there's an opportunity for camaraderie.... So it think that's a good thing."

by PatJRiley via twitter 11/2/2015 9:57:58 PM
Now question from resident: Why does Bonita even want a high school?

by PatJRiley via twitter 11/2/2015 9:57:23 PM
Applause from crowd as resident & BSFD commissioner Fred Forbes says that "it is terrible" that city would even allow board to ask for road

by PatJRiley via twitter 11/2/2015 9:56:57 PM
Schwing says both city and school board have eminent domain powers.

by PatJRiley via twitter 11/2/2015 9:55:01 PM
Schwing reiterates that Hunters Ridge Blvd. is indeed a city road. After resident asks if city informed school board that it was private.

by PatJRiley via twitter 11/2/2015 9:53:57 PM
One woman from the crowd: There's no place for us to put another access. Where is it?

by PatJRiley via twitter 11/2/2015 9:52:23 PM
60 days from today in January 1, 2016. The district had set a deadline of Dec. 31 by which to purchase a property. twitter.com/PatJRiley/stat…

by Mel Leonor via twitter retweeted by PatJRiley 11/2/2015 9:49:51 PM
John Dulmer, director of community development, re Hunters Ridge Blvd.: "Road going away" is on school district's wish list.

by PatJRiley via twitter 11/2/2015 9:49:25 PM
One resident concerned that buses would drop off kids near two 7-11s that sell cigarettes, liquor. "Is that OK?"

by PatJRiley via twitter 11/2/2015 9:48:03 PM
We're now on to questions from the residents.

by PatJRiley via twitter 11/2/2015 9:44:15 PM
Then city has 45 days to decide the site is compatible with land development code, Vance says.

by PatJRiley via twitter 11/2/2015 9:41:11 PM
Vance says school board has not provided city written notice yet. Needs to provide written notice 60 days prior to making purchase.

by PatJRiley via twitter 11/2/2015 9:40:32 PM
Vance reiterates that the city is not involved in the site selection process. School district sets up a site selection committee.

by PatJRiley via twitter 11/2/2015 9:38:55 PM
City Attorney Audrey Vance says city has had interlocal agreement with school district since 2008.

by PatJRiley via twitter 11/2/2015 9:37:56 PM
"We follow the process. We share your concerns." -- Schwing

by PatJRiley via twitter 11/2/2015 9:34:39 PM
Schwing says it's "hurtful" to think ppl would think that the city would purposefully hide project from the residents.

by PatJRiley via twitter 11/2/2015 9:34:15 PM
Councilman Peter Simmons just joined the meeting.

by PatJRiley via twitter 11/2/2015 9:33:29 PM
Groans from the crowd after that last comment from Schwing.

by PatJRiley via twitter 11/2/2015 9:30:32 PM
Schwing says school won't provide transportation for anyone living in 2 mile radius to school."So you're going to look at drivers for that."

by PatJRiley via twitter 11/2/2015 9:30:10 PM
Schwing says once the school starts "you're not going to see much activity." But then when students leave around 1 traffic will pick up.

by PatJRiley via twitter 11/2/2015 9:29:22 PM
"This is HS that's going to have 1,800 students," Schwing says. Adds 30 buses will be driving down Bonita Grande in the morning.

by PatJRiley via twitter 11/2/2015 9:28:39 PM
Schwing says no elected official has been involved in site selection process.

by PatJRiley via twitter 11/2/2015 9:26:57 PM
Schwing says Hunters Ridge Rd. is a city-owned road. I assume he means Hunters Ridge Blvd.

by PatJRiley via twitter 11/2/2015 9:24:04 PM
Q from the crowd re Hunters Ridge Blvd.: Does this mean you will annex our road of 30 yrs and we'd have to figure out a new entrance?

by PatJRiley via twitter 11/2/2015 9:22:50 PM
City Manager now showing folks the "Bernwood site." Again east of Interstate 75 and south of Bonita Beach Road. http://pbs.twimg.com/media/CS1hRF_WoAAEl0e.jpg

by PatJRiley via twitter 11/2/2015 9:20:31 PM
Then there would be a swap between school board's Estero property and the proposed site near Hunters Ridge/Worthington/Quail West.

by PatJRiley via twitter 11/2/2015 9:18:08 PM
Schwing says a private company is negotiating with owners of proposed site on behalf of school board.

by PatJRiley via twitter 11/2/2015 9:17:00 PM
Schwing says school board does not have a lot of money, wants to "leverage whatever assets it has."

by PatJRiley via twitter 11/2/2015 9:16:07 PM
"We made it very clear that they could not build in there," Schwing says, re any sites in DRGR.

by PatJRiley via twitter 11/2/2015 9:14:00 PM
Other potential site, already owned by district, was in DRGR. City did have reservations about that site, Schwing says.

by PatJRiley via twitter 11/2/2015 9:13:29 PM
Laughs from crowd as Schwing explains school board said 1 of potential sites was too close to I-75. Proposed current site->right next to I75

by PatJRiley via twitter 11/2/2015 9:12:08 PM
Schwing says he is aware of six locations. School board has looked at 11 potential locations, per internal memo.

by PatJRiley via twitter 11/2/2015 9:09:43 PM
Schwing says school board was "astounded" to hear Bonita wants high school as bad as it does, Schwing says.

by PatJRiley via twitter 11/2/2015 9:07:37 PM
Schwing says a high school in Bonita will last 40 to 50 years.

by PatJRiley via twitter 11/2/2015 9:06:28 PM