Draft Minutes
November 17, 2004 Meeting
Call To Order, Introductions, Review of Agenda.
Brian Griffin opened the meeting of the Lee County Smart Growth Advisory
Committee at 6:00 p.m., in the First Floor Meeting Room of the Lee
County Administration Building.
The following
Members were in attendance: The following staff was in Attendance:
Mr. Jack
Eikenberg Don Stilwell,
County Manager
Mr. O. Lee Ford Bob
Janes, Commissioner Dist.1 (Arrived 7:40 p.m.)
Ms. Jill
Tyrer Wayne
Daltry, Director Smart Growth
Mr. Brian Griffin Tim Jones,
County Attorney
Mr. Rudy Marian Lucy Crook,
Recording Secretary
Mrs. Carie Obenchain
Ms. Kathy
Babcock (Arrived 6:13 p.m. for Jeannie Dozier)
The following Committee members were Excused absent:
Mr. Steve Maxwell
Ms. Ellen Lindblad
Mr. Don Eslick
Mr. Rob Fowler
Mr. Arnold Rosenthal – Resigned
Mr. Dennis Gilkey
The following Committee members were Unexcused absent:
Mr. Bill Hammond
I
Call to Order, Introductions, Review of Agenda
A.
Chairman Brian Griffin welcomed new member Carie Obenchain.
II
Administrative Matters
A.
Minutes of October 20th 2004
MOTION:
§
Brian Griffin made a motion to approve the October
20, 2004 minutes. Mr. Eikenberg seconded. Called and
carried.
III
Presentation:
A.
Lee County Hearing Officer System, Chief Hearing Examiner Diana
Parker.
Wayne Daltry introduced Diana Parker: The attached
brochure covers the information. Some of the information covered
follows:
§
The Hearing Examiners office may do appeals if the county
declines a permit. If the county’s interpretation of the ordinance is
incorrect, the examiner will go back to the county to hold a hearing.
§
Examiner has the final authority on variances. In special
exceptions, the applicant’s only recourse is to appeal to the Circuit
Court.
§
The Hearing Examiner assesses the situation to see if it
is consistent with the Comprehensive Plan and the concerns of the
public.
§
The Examiner is less burdened when the Community Plans
have criteria for the developer to follow.
Diana Parker opened the floor for questions. Topics covered were:
·
A Notice of Hearing sign is posted within 500 feet.
·
How case decisions are made and if most cases are in line with
the “Comp Plan.”
·
Examiners are attorneys and members of the Florida Bar
Association who abide by a code of ethics.
·
Diana Parker’s definition of Smart Growth, “When you have
a development coming out at a pace that you can keep up with
infrastructure.”
·
The Examiners are aware of the Burt Harris Act and state laws,
however their concerns are advising BoCC on local laws.
·
She concurred the difficultly in weighing decisions when county
staff consists of 1 person (wearing different hats) and the developer
has 14 degreed experts in each field. In a Judicial situation the Judge
generally gives the decision to the person who has more degrees. It was
discussed that Smart Growth recommend the county hire or contract
experts for such cases
·
Hearing Examiner stated that what is implemented for planning &
zoning is the guidepost followed.
·
Diana Parker answered Rudy Marian that Smart Growth
could help the Hearing Examiners office by recommending that ordinances
be clearly worded to avoid misinterpretation.
Break at 6:55 p.m. Reconvened at 7:03 p.m.
Brian Griffin asked Carrie Obenchain to summarize her
background. Some items mentioned, she is a Florida native, works for a
commuter company in Cape Coral and lives in Bokeelia.
Wayne Daltry introduced a volunteer Bo Turbeville, a member of
the Board of Directors of the Lehigh Chamber of Commerce, who might be
considered a Lehigh appointee to this committee.
B. Big Boxes in Development, by Robert Mulhere, AICP, Principal and
Director of Planning, RWA, Inc.
Mr. Daltry introduced Bob Mulhere. (His power point
presentation is attached.) Previously, he was the Planning Director in
Collier County for approximately 14 years. He since has opened a
business, located in Ft. Myers. Some of the items he covered on “Big
Boxes” were:
§
Occupy more than 50,000
square feet, with typical ranges between 90,000-200,000 sq. ft.
§
Large, rectangular single-story
buildings
with standardized facades and
§
relies on acres of parking.
§
What you want the development to look like drives the
Community Plan Concept. Be aware of what, when, and where you change
something to prevent future hazardous conditions.
§
Over time “Big Box” stores cost the county more than the
revenue brought in to the county.
§
What surrounds the “Big Box?” Mode of transportation could
determine huge asphalt parking.
DISCUSSION:
§
Referred to “defunct shopping centers” concept of parking
behind the building is not cost effective because building close to the
street is costly.
(Commissioner Janes arrived.)
§
The core of Smart Growth invites commercial developers and
shopping centers with incentives, such as CRA’s. It also promotes
taller buildings away from the street, etc.
§
Density is critical for transit. It cannot be stopped, but
can be directed.
§
Downtown Ft. Myers has all the components to develop a new
urban design and has the best potential out of any cities he can think
of in Florida.
§
Ft. Myers is not following the Duane Plan with height of
buildings along the river.
IV
Action Section
A.
Evaluation of Hurricane Response and Recovery (Attached.)
§
Wayne Daltry noted the evaluation “Kick Off” begins
November 18, 2004. The 4 keynotes of a hurricane are, 1) When it is
coming over you, 2) What you do immediately, 3) What is done short term,
4) What is done long term. The following will be topics of discussion:
§
Self-assessment of county departments - how did the county
do and what should be done differently.
§
Discuss the efforts and opinions with the independent
constitutional offices and City of Ft. Myers.
§
Complete an update of a Reformed County Response Plan
before the next hurricane.
Topics
Discussed by Wayne Daltry:
§
Lehigh Effort - A key panel has been formed and
they are diligently working on how things are to be handled.
§
Next Smart Growth meeting – will be in January when
some of the results on the analysis undertaken on the emerging community
centers will be a topic.
§
Babcock – Still waiting.
§
Brian Griffin suggested that we invite other
advisory boards such as IBA, LPA, etc., to encourage and inform what
Smart Growth is doing.
§
Wayne Daltry said they are waiting to hear from the
state regarding Smart Growth reports and recommendations BoCC sent in
August. It was agreed that Smart Growth should and is approaching
community plans in other communities such as Page Park and Lehigh Acres.
§
Rudy Marian and Wayne Daltry asked Lucy to take a
toll for attendance on the Mitigation Workshop, November 24.
§
Short discussion on Fire District Operational issue, not
consolidation issue and when and where meetings may be taking place.
VI
Public Comment
No Public Comment.
VII
SET NEXT MEETING DATE - January 19, 2005 at 6:00 p.m. at the
Lee County Administration Building, First Floor Conference Room, 2115
Second Street, Ft. Myers, FL. The
meeting ended at 8:10 p.m.
Meeting
Adjourned at 7:55 p.m.
Reminder of Water Issue Conference, December 3, 2004, at the Caloosa
Nature Center.
Respectfully submitted,
Lucy Crook
