The Board of Lee County
Commissioners authorized the creation of the county’s Smart Growth
Department in October 2001 following a year long study of the issue by
a task force. The Board also created a 18-member Smart Growth Advisory
Committee, with each Commissioner appointing three members. The
chairmen of the School Board and County Commission also are committee
members, and the County Manager is an ex-officio member. The Smart
Growth Advisory Committee held its inaugural meeting April 25, 2002 to
officially begin the county’s Smart Growth process.
The Smart Growth Committee builds
upon and furthers the work initiated by the Smart Growth Task Force.
The work of the Smart Growth Task Force is contained in the Archives
section of this Website.
The goal of Smart Growth is to achieve a good balance between
community livability, economic viability, and environmental
sensitivity. One of its keys is proactive, inclusive,
community-supported growth management. Elements include, but are not
limited to, Environmental Quality, Land Use, Transportation, Water
Supply and Community Character.
In February 2002, the county hired Wayne Daltry, former executive
director of the Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council, as its
Smart Growth Director. Mr. Daltry worked for the Regional Planning
Council for 27 years – 20 as executive director – and has extensive
experience with regional and local community issues.
The Committee approved a broad
range of recommendations December 2003, which are contained in the
"Committee Recommendations". The Lee Plan amendments approved in May,
2007, modeled the Local Plan Amendments proposed by the Smart Growth
Committee.
To learn more about the County’s Smart Growth process, view the links
on the left.
Director: Wayne Daltry
Annual Budget: $340,000
Phone: 533-2240
FAX: 485-2262
Street Address: P.O. Box 398, Fort Myers, FL 33902
E-MAIL
visits since 05-01-2004