SMART GROWTH COMMITTEE
February
18, 2009 Minutes
Smart Growth
Time and Place: Wednesday,
February 18, 2009 from 6-8 p.m., 1st Floor, Lee County
Administration Building, 2115 Second Street, Fort Myers, Florida.
1.
Call to Order, Introductions,
Review of Agenda
Chairman Hammond
called the meeting of the Lee County Smart Growth (SG) Advisory
Committee to order at 6:04 p.m.
The following
committee members in attendance:
Ms. Jill Tyrer
Ms. Ellen Lindblad
Ms. Carie Call
Mr. Lee Ford
Mr. Ron Hamel
Dr. Bill Hammond
Dr. Margaret Banyan
Ms. Whitney Gray
Mr. Walter Fluegel
Mr. Robert Chilmonik
Ms. Liz Paul
Mr. Neal Noethlich
Mr. Jack Luft
The following committee members
excused absence:
Mr. Damon Romanello
Ms. Margaret Fineberg
The following staff in attendance:
Wayne Daltry, Director of Smart
Growth
John Fredyma, County Attorney
Lucy Crook, Recording Secretary
2. Administrative Matters
A.
Minutes of January 21, 2009.
Action Needed: Accept and approve the
minutes as amended by discussion of the members.
Chairman
Hammond entertained a
motion to accept the January 21, 2009 Draft Minutes. Ms.
Tyrer
seconded for discussion. She asked to change word “user” on page two,
under Combining issues under an umbrella, last sentence, to “producer”.
Mr. Fluegel accepted the motion with the correction. There were
no objections. Motion passed.
3.
Discussion
A. Outcomes of Code Review
(Handout-
Smart Growth & Code Reform)
Mr. Daltry
reviewed the attachment to check that all major points have not been
missed. It is important to make sure the County Code does not prevent
“Smart” Codes. He asked for additions or deletions.
In answer to Dr. Banyan, “How this
compares to SG vision?” Mr. Daltry explained SG started with the
10 policy principles; we graded ourselves; pursued the missing pieces in
the reforms; stayed within those ten principles and have remained
consistent. He noted that mixable uses by themselves are not listed.
Chairman Hammond
talked about some of the following: a) LEED for Home Programs,
http://www.floridaleedhomes.org/
a voluntary rating system that
promotes the design and construction of high-performance green homes
and; b) Green
Globes System,
http://www.thegbi.org/green-globes-tools/a revolutionary building environmental design and
management tool
to
bring in all mixed
uses and all environmental and social considerations; c)Vernacular Architecture,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vernacular_architecture
a term used to categorize methods of construction which use locally
available resources and traditions to address your locality.
The structure by which we may have a form based code to layer into the
Lee Code, an Umbrella for Sustainable Community.
Problem Analyses
– Mr. Daltry talked about an
18 month timeline to bring reforms to the BoCC to give him clear
direction.
Discussion:
Ms. Gray said to: 1) add development pattern to fit
the neighborhood. Dr. Banyan noted, 2) under Walkable
Communities to add more quality requirements on sidewalks
and; 3) to add Energy Efficiency under Development
Pattern - infill saves energy, etc. (Mr. Luft arrived at 6:28 p.m.).
Mr. Daltry’s
direction after more
discussion: 1) he will send to the Committee a memo with member
comments to review all the principles discussed; 2) focus on
housing opportunities, mixed uses and energy leads;
3) have work session(s) with Power Point and speaker; 4)
check that Walkable Community’s include Complete Streets principle;
5) pursue Transparency to make sure decisions are predictable
and ensure community stakeholder collaboration; and 6) Code
System will be reviewed to provide opportunity where appropriate.
More Additions: Ms. Call
said incorporate placement, not just building into Walkable
Community’s using the Lead Principle. Joe Beck, Landscape
Architect described the Transect Principle from Congress for
New Urbanism. It recognizes
walkable, human-scaled neighborhoods as the basis of sustainable
communities.
The principle of Transect creates sustainability from urban to
rural and deals with the community as a whole. It is a
real neighborhood structure that
requires walkable streets, mixed use, transportation options, and
housing diversity. LEED
deals with building environment.
-
Lead Committee Member for Each
Interview Group - Mr.
Daltry referred to February 12, 2009 memo sent with agenda. He
asked members to let him know what members are conducting an interview
with what groups to add to the list. Commissioner Hall offered to be
the liaison with the Horizon Council. (This will be delayed due to
her personal leave.) There were questions on the interviewing
process. It is important to create three or four leading questions.
Mr. Ford said the process is an issue more than Code. He
invited individuals tonight to make comment on their perspective with
what is wrong with the code and the process.
Chairman Hammond
asked the public “How would you update the County’s Code as they move
forward to make that transition?”
Performance Standards
- David Jones, Landscape architect, planner, arborist, naturalist
sustainability and quality of life, said the Code is the
implementation of engineering - design is not a code element. Some of
what he talked about follows: There are no performance standards
or goals to meet; it is market driven but influenced by code, i.e.
utilization of resources and forced by urban sprawl because of density
thoughts; gave examples of projects that were not allowed; need a set
of measures that not only lead us but accrue rights by virtue of
compliance to make it happen; the three key elements - supportable,
compatible and consistent would make the planning approach positive, but
it is driven by a process that says engineering is foremost; currently,
code is backwards and locks you into things which takes design away;
sidewalks need a sense of going somewhere (New Urbanism) - interacting
with neighbors; no time is spent on real quality of life. Performance
Standards need placement in the Code not only for punitive reason,
but for reward.
Michael Reitmann, Lee Building
Association. Some of his
comments follow: The Fort Myers downtown redesign is poor plan with palm
tree placement inhibiting parking; the comprehensive subject is
impossible to tackle; Land Development Codes become difficult because
many go back to the 1920’s; important to focus on how to attract
business and diversify economy in Lee County to make a better design and
quality life; figure how to tie Economic Development and diversity to
survive and how to bring new development without going through a three
year code process that is unpredictable and politicized; codes can be
complied and yet denied when it comes to BoCC; the Water Management
District codes lack integration with all codes leaving the developer
with no practical approach; it is a critical time to make it more fluid
and get the political process out of the City and County; and if you do
not have economy to implement sustainability then you are working in a
vacuum.
Nichole DeVaughn, Planning Manager, City
of Fort Myers agrees there is
a need for more countywide cooperation where all code books are the
same; the City’s current issue is sustainability, but how to standardize
goals/concepts cooperatively; agrees with a need to improve mass
transit; use Form Based Codes and Transect because it is
more easily understood by the public; show the intention of the Code;
and look at broader issues - not micromanage. Mr. Daltry referred
to the Code Review issue and answered that current pursuit of
Interlocal Agreement is underway with all municipalities. David Jones
added that locally the science base currently done is weak, i.e.;
categorize trees under horticulture basis instead of engineering basis
and the short-sidedness with Water Management design when engineers do
not understand that trees hold water; filter marshes are another issue.
Need to test those things against real science that supports it
and revise the landscape codes.
Keith Kibbey,
Public, a chemist by education and water manager by trade
talked about water quality and questioned if it has improved in the past
5 – 10 years. For 27 years he documents declining water quality and said
he does not know what the answer is, but letting Water Management
District continue to do the wrong thing means we have to do something
different on managing our water. An example, is it known that water
management for a new development today will fit the criteria ten years
from now? He agrees with Performance Standards. We cannot keep
managing our water wrong, at the least do something different.
Is current code achieving what it was set
up for way back then? Mr. Daltry
noted to add this to the list. Chairman Hammond said to figure
how to keep Code effective, but simple to the needs of the County.
Create criteria for low impact design into the Code. Dan Moser, BPAC,
Public said transportation and planners are stuck with outdated
Water Management District codes with regards to curb, turn lane designs,
trees instead of ditches, with no ability to use innovative techniques.
These are the same issues that would help pedestrians/bicyclist but the
Water Management District principles are antiquated. Joe Beck
said the Code issue is that it is written by engineers based on
efficiency and use check lists without flexibility disallowing builders
to create design.
SG’s
Roll - Mr. Daltry explained
that a) we are not overhauling the code to SG only, but are
pursing reforms where code prevents carrying out SG; b) the next
step is the County Managers approval to finance and then to the Board of
County Commissioners (BoCC); c) the Committee will audit through
transparency in the Review Process; d) during the review,
determine if there is enough obstructions in the Code to keep the design
from being applied with the SG principles. While each community plans
and pursues enhancement for their own, SG will look at the Code Check
List to make sure each task is getting done according to SG principles;
e) using Form Based Code with select pieces of property, it will
be known where continuity is prevented and any to be needed; f)
the redevelopment planning and community plans, as they are passed by
BoCC, will make a community whole.
Additional Groups to add to Mr. Daltry’s
Interview list: Dr. Banyan
suggested Fire and Emergency Operations, Collier County Health
Department and other decision makers in surrounding counties,
landscapers, landscape architects, and bicycle clubs. Ms. Call
added schools. Mr. Noethlich with regards to community planning
said to ensure all entities has a chance to present to the community,
but the School Board has a separate jurisdiction and standards. Need to
apply a cross organizational plan. Mr. Chilmonik answered
Mr. Hamel that there are a few walkable schools but quality of
sidewalks may be at risk. He suggests clustering schools in
neighborhoods to offer a seamless process and eliminate transportation
issues.
Stacy Renay, Health Department and Chair
of the Smart Growth Coalition Collier County
noted these discussions are starting in
Collier County. Her task is to coordinate all entities and to increase
communication. In Tallahassee Smart Growth is a big issue especially
with the Health Department. Obese children and adults are playing a huge
factor with sprawl development and Federal and State are promoting
grants for Healthy People and Healthy Communities. She offered to
assist with grants for other organizations.
-
Incentives for Infill and Redevelopment
(from last month, at this website
http://www.smartgrowthlee.com/MISC%20DOCUMENTS/2009%20meeting%20attachments/Incentives%20for%20SG%201-09.pdf):
Mr. Daltry said the task is to reaffirm the outcomes wanted
from the Codes which guide the review. Not knowing if the cost
will prohibit the incentives recommended that change the Core Level of
Service, we still have to change the way things are being done.
Action
Item: Prepare a paper and
workshop it by bringing agenda item back in March, receive more public
comment and in April or May confirm decision and forward recommendation
to BoCC to restructure the Core Level of Service, otherwise we are
wasting our time.
Additions to the Interview List –
Chairman Hammond said to
interview the business community for input from their
perspective. Mr. Daltry said under the Managerial side to
take Mr. Jones’ comments. Mr. Ford added lawyers
that deal with building code process. Mr. Luft said master
developers and property leasing agents.
D. The Interface of Infill and
Redevelopment with Complete Streets:
Code Review will provide the SG outcome which is, “Can a 12 year old
child go anywhere from house and back without being run over? If the
finances did not have to be considered in changing the Core Level of
Service, what is the right structure to pursue with combined
bikeways/motor vehicles, etc? Mr. Moser, Public said to at least
put enough emphasis on shared use lanes to alert that bikes are allowed.
Still having resistance from County traffic engineer placing Share
the Road signs and adding proper striping design. It would help the
County with their liability. He requested adding into the
recommendation decisions defining which road areas are the first to mark.
4. Task Progress
A. Member Issues:
See above.
B. Updates:
Interlocal Agreements
– Mr. Daltry summarized that cities are reviewing the process of
agreement for infrastructure. Financing agreements will be made first.
Commissioner Hall is sponsoring the Caloosahatchee River
Watershed Plan Implementation Committee, Management Planning Surface and
Groundwater model for Lee County is reaching closure. Mining
is legislatively being looked at and BoCC is adopting 2007-08
Comprehensive Plan Amendments.
5.
Public Comment:
See above.
6.
Set next meeting (March 18th); identify agenda items, and
Adjourn.
Chairman
Hammond entertained a
motion to adjourn at 8:10 p.m.; seconded by Mr. Fluegel. Called
and carried.
Respectfully submitted by:
Lucy Crook, Recording Secretary
Lee County Administration
-
Minutes
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Conclusions from Complete Street Review
Lee
