Originally published on WINK News by Claire Galt on June 12, 2025
Lee County is experiencing rapid growth, which raises concerns about infrastructure and environmental impacts.
Commissioners recently approved Neal Communities’ plan to build nearly 1,100 homes on 788 acres at the corner of North River Road and Owl Creek Drive in Alva.
More residents mean more waste, and the additional strain on the sewage system is raising alarms. The waste will be handled by the Fort Myers Central Facility on Raleigh Street, which environmental groups say is already struggling.
John Cassani from Calusa Waterkeeper warned about the frequency of spills in the area.
“There’s probably a spill every couple months in Fort Myers somewhere, especially around the time a hurricane comes, because the storm water floods,” said Cassani. “Those happen too often with this particular facility.”
The Fort Myers Central Facility has not been updated since 1985, and it’s currently under a consent order from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to upgrade. Despite this, Lee County commissioners approved the facility to service the new homes.
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