Moratorium's end

Bonita Springs tarnished its reputation as a business-friendly municipality when its city council enacted a one-year moratorium on large developments east of Interstate 75 in January.

A moratorium is the nuclear option of cities that can't manage growth. It was a popular tactic during the real estate boom of the last decade to halt new development.

But Bonita Springs and nearby Estero have become a hot spot for future development as economic growth resumes. The area sits between Naples and Fort Myers and will be the future home of Hertz's corporate headquarters.