Some say new Super Target misses mark

The opening of big box shopping is usually a welcome addition to any neighborhood, but the new Super Target in south Fort Myers isn't being completely embraced.

The store, which opened a couple weeks ago, is already gaining negative attention from more than 900 residents at the Beach Walk Isles, a gated community across the street from the Plaza at Island Pass.

Kathy Miller of south Fort Myers owns a home near Beach Walk Boulevard and said the increase in traffic at the new Target is a major concern.

"It's horrible. The traffic on the street is worse. I can only imagine what will happen when season returns," said Miller. There are 170 homes in her community. There are two adjacent condominiums with more than 800 residents.

Miller wants the Target's developers, The Desco Group, to install a traffic signal at the intersection of San Carlos Boulevard and Majestic Palms Boulevard to help ease congestion on the road.

"There are plans to put in a traffic signal but they will have to do some traffic engineering studies first," said Steve Houston, the developers spokesperson. "They need the study to figure out what is the optimal signal and configuration for that area."

In the meantime, Miller said, she is unable to make a safe left turn out of her street onto San Carlos Boulevard and expects to see crashes until a signal is installed. She also is limited in the number of roads she can use to get out of her community - Beach Walk Boulevard and Gladiolus Drive.

"It's dangerous to make a left turn but people leaving the Target plaza can go straight onto Beach Walk Boulevard," said Miler about the private road that is maintained by the community. "The (Home Owners Association) is spending money to redesign the road to have roundabouts and speed humps."

And, that's the best solution according to Steve Jansen, the
traffic engineer for Lee County Department of Transportation.

"Those private roads pose a problem because if they put in a traffic signal things will get worse," said Jansen about the state-owned San Carlos Boulevard." Beach Walk Boulevard has to be redesigned to make it a less attractive cut through to Gladiolus Boulevard."

Installing traffic signals is a balancing act because they are meant to help people get off the side streets but never help traffic along, Jansen said.

"My guess is that (Desco) will do a study in a couple of months after the store opens and it will take a few weeks to crank out," he said about the possibility of installing a traffic signal as per the developers master plan. "But it could take up to a year after that to see a traffic signal ... it gets state approval first, materials are ordered and then it's installed."