of the
Smart Growth Task
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Review and Discussion

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Draft Minutes

SMART GROWTH MINUTES

February 16, 2005 Meeting

 

Call To Order, Introductions, Review of Agenda.

 

Bill Hammond opened the meeting of the Lee County Smart Growth Advisory Committee at 6:09 p.m., in the First Floor Meeting Room of the Lee County Administration Building. 

 

The following Members were in attendance:      

Ms. Ellen Lindblad                                                        

Mr. O. Lee Ford                           

Ms. Jill Tyrer                                                  

Mrs. Carie Obenchain

Mr. Rob Fowler

Dr. Elinor Scricca

Mr. Neal Noethlich

Mr. Rob Hamel

Mr. Bill Hammond

Mr. Brian Griffin

 

The following committee members were excused absent:

Mr. Steve Maxwell 

Mr. Dennis Gilkey

Mr. Jack Eikenberg

Mr. Rudy Marian

Mr. Don Eslick

 

The following staff were in attendance:

Don Stilwell, County Manager (Departed at 7:05)

Wayne Daltry, Director Smart Growth

Tim Jones, County Attorney

Lucy Crook, Recording Secretary

Paul O’Connor, Planning Director

John Wilson, Public Safety Director

 

Call to Order, Introductions, Review of Agenda

Bryan Griffin called the meeting to order at 6:08.

  

II             Administrative Matters

MOTION:

Bryan Griffin entertained a motion to accept and approve the January 19, 2005 minutes.  Moved by Bill Hammond. Seconded by Lee Ford.  Called and carried.

 

Wayne Daltry introduced Rob Hamel, appointed by Commissioner John Albion. Mr. Hamel represents the citrus industry and 5 counties. He looks forward to being a part of this committee.

 

Mr. Daltry reminded the committee that Smart Growth’s recommendations were provided to BoCC in December 2004 for the Board to send for approval.  The Lee County Comprehensive Plan Update is the largest part of the approval process.  Paul O’Connor, Lee County Planning Director helps work through this process and will discuss the Evaluation Appraisal Report.

III           Presentation – Paul O’Connor, Lee County Planning Director:

A.                   Lee County EAR process and product. (Implementing Smart Growth.) - Attached

Mr. O’Connor explained that the Department of Community Affairs scheduled a meeting to implement a new evaluation process. Instead of rewriting one policy at a time, the procedure is to identify what the major planning issues are through a public process followed up with a written Evaluation Appraisal Report (EAR.)  Paul O’Connor explained how Lee County solicited input, held public meetings and brought the list to BoCC.  Department of Community Affairs endorsed it and Lee County proceeded to write a report against the 12 issues.  The State returned the report requesting more information.  A meeting was scheduled with the county department staff last month (Attached, “Summary of the Meeting of January 20, 2005, between Lee County Staff and DCA,”) to discuss a road map to get through the work process.   Mr. O’Connor said if within 12 months of the December 20, 2004 submission date of the EAR Plan the state does not find them sufficient, Lee County would loose the ability to modify the Comprehensive Plan. He anticipates that all the State’s issues will be addressed well within 12 months.

 

Mr. O’Connor highlighted as follows the “Summary of the Meeting of January 20, 2005, between Lee County Staff and DCA:”

 

“The Population of Growth,” obtained through a build-out figure, is one of the evaluations from the EAR to extend planning horizons and MPO from 2020 to 2030. The planning process is being updated using that new horizon to bring maps and transportation planning into the Comprehensive Plan.  New population projections are looked at and will be divided within the county to accommodate expected growth for the next 25-30 year period.  In the Transportation Section, under Transportation Concurrency, there is an important change referring to “Roadway length by roadway length process.” That capacity directly impacts a development.  Our roadway system is not lengths but a system and will process a new concurrency using the MPO planning process. It takes projected populations, distributes it throughout the county, identifies future employment centers, puts traffic counts into the model and generates a needed transportation system for the future.  Capital Improvement Programs are the second step using the Concurrency Management System as a yearly guide to see if roadway capacity and Capital Improvement Programs are met.

 

Discussion continued with some of the following topics. Mr. Daltry reiterated that the EAR hurdle has to be completed before Smart Growth recommendations can be made. There was more discussion on holding off development in DRGR and annexation in urban use areas. There is no longer a legislative bill to eliminate city annexation from building density in the future. City annexations can alter the county’s Comprehensive Plan.

 

Transportation Concurrency was discussed.  Members concluded that a workshop session would be helpful.  Wayne Daltry suggested Tim Jones lead this workshop from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. March 23, 2005 at the next meeting date.

 

B.                   Lee County Affordable Housing Initiatives

Wayne Daltry distributed information on Lee County Affordable Housing Committee. The Ad Hoc Affordable Housing Incentives Subcommittee will meet jointly for a presentation on Lee County’s Request for Proposals for the establishment of a Community Land Trust (CLT) on March 2, 1:00 pm in the County Administration building.  He distributed “Introducing Community Land Trusts” brochure (attached) that explains the concept.  He also distributed “Housing and Rental Guideline for 2005,” (attached.)  Mr. Ford took the floor where he stated that, “Affordable Housing is market driven and workforce housing is income driven.”  He explained that it is based on income.  The economy of the market drives what is considered affordable in relation to the development in the community. Affordable housing is not based on the income of the people living in the community. It is relevant to the location.  The price could be based on the market, not based on the income in the community.  The issue is to get the housing based on income. That is what makes it “Affordable Housing.” He explained that HDC and Habitat are “Subsidized Housing,” not “Workforce Housing.”  This concept buys down mortgages through grants to make it affordable to move into the home.  Mr. Ford said Habitat is not the affordable housing market and this is misunderstood because it does not “Touch their market.” Workforce Housing Market is for those whose income is too high to qualify for a Habitat Home, and whose income is not sufficient to purchase a home in the open market.  The workforce market is defined as the working people without subsidy.

 

Wayne Daltry discussed mixed-use developers that diversify our own use of our codes to diversify the housing market. Paul O’Connor added that the county is entering into a negotiation period with a consultant to help link commercial development to affordable housing impacts and how to mitigate that using a Rankish Fee.  Mr. Lee pointed out that affordable housing is not a priority in the negotiations with the county and city.  The developers need to know all fees upfront.  Paul O’Connor commented that the county ‘s goal is to codify so developers will have knowledge of all fees. Discussion continued with developers setting land aside for schools.

 

Recess at 7:05 (Don Stilwell departed) Meeting began at 7:18.

 

IV.               Action Section

A.  Review of 2004 Hurricane Self Assessment (Attached)

Wayne Daltry requested input on how well the county did during the hurricanes.  Workshops, interviews, public input, surveys were undertaken to evaluate how well the county served. He disbursed, “Hurricane Season 2004, A Brief Evaluation.”  It was realized that every county employee should man the phones and electronic machines at EMS

 

He introduced John Wilson, Public Safety Director who covered some of the attachment on Smart Growth issues. Mr. Wilson expressed; a) long-term mitigation strategy with regards to reassessing build-out capacity, b) reassessing platted lands in heavily impacted areas, c) finding ways to mitigate the loss of property value to farmers in coastal rural land and d) realizing the National Guard and other agency’s were not self-sufficient and did not provide their own shelter. Discussion continued.

 

V            Other Business

A.  Members identify those issues that may not have been addressed to date.

Action needed:  Issues to be forwarded to the next meeting.

Wayne Daltry stated at the next meeting he plans to lift tabled items such as affordable housing. He confirmed with Ellen Lyndblad that the DRG studies are due to be out in March. Other progress included for next meeting will be update on the build-out and Karen Hawes presentation on the progress of Human Services Council.

 

VI          Public Comment

Bryan Griffin honored Leo Cooper’s request to present something at the next meeting. Mr. Cooper questioned Mr. Ford on affordable housing communities.  Kathy Malone spoke about Cape Coral and the Water Basin Board.

 

Wayne Daltry reminded members of the March 11 & 12 Planning and Training Workshop in Lehigh at Veterans Park sponsored with the University of Florida, and the April 1 workshop at Gulfcoast University sponsored by the Board of SWFL Management Association.

 

VII        SET NEXT MEETING DATE  - March 16, 2005, 6:00 p.m. at the Lee County Administration Building, First Floor Conference Room, 2115 Second Street, Ft. Myers, FL.

 

MOTION – Bryan Griffin entertained a motion to adjourn at 8:08 p.m. Seconded by Ellen Lyndblad.  Called and carried.

 

 ADJOURNED at  8:08 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Recording Secretary, Lucy Crook