The purpose of a community plan is to address specific conditions unique to a defined area of the county.  The unique conditions of the Bayshore community plan area are addressed by the proposed provisions which support low-density residential development, limited commercial development, agricultural and equestrian activities, and open spaces, all of which are inherent of a rural community.

In order to further address the concern that rural character is protected, the Bayshore community plan area will become subject to the proposed provisions for the Northeast Lee County Community Plan area.  These provisions specifically address protection of rural character.  

The draft community plan dated February 15, 2019 did not address minimum lot sizes; however, subsequent to the open house, a new provision is proposed, Policy 18.1.2, which will require all lots within the DR/GR and Open Lands future land use categories be a minimum of 2.5 acres in size.

In the Rural, Sub-Outlying Suburban and General Interchange future land use categories, the minimum lot sizes will be smaller in order to accommodate permitted densities.  The County cannot risk the legal liability of reducing existing allowable densities (Burt Harris legislation).

Height is addressed by existing zoning provisions and is not being changed by the proposed regulations. 

Clustering of development on a property allows for a site to be designed to provide large open space areas for water management, protection of environmentally sensitive areas, and preservation of flowways and wetlands which can help minimize flood hazards.

The proposed Policy 18.2.5 requires that all new development connect to a sanitary sewer system or advanced septic systems.  The policy has been revised to correct a typo.

The proposed Policy 18.2.3 provides that new developments cannot interrupt the natural flowway corridors.  This will be able to accomplished by clustering new development.   In addition, new development will need to comply with proposed LDC 33-1748 that provides additional regulations to preserve the historic flow patterns, prohibit impediments to surface water flow, and incorporate natural features into the surface water management system.

Also proposed are Policy 18.1.5 and LDC Section 33-1750 which require new developments to utilize construction techniques to reduce the displacement of surface water during flood events.

The South Florida Water Management District and Florida Department of Environmental Protection are the State agencies with authority to issue and enforce Environmental Resource Permits.  Information can be found by visiting the SFWMD website.

Developments of less than two acres will be required to provide a minimum of 40% open space and developments of two or more acres will be required to provide a minimum of 60% open space.   These increased open space requirements reduce the amount of impervious surfaces that may be developed on a property. 

Berms may be required by South Florida Water Management District or the Florida Department of Environmental Protection through issuance of an Environmental Resource Permit and therefore cannot be outright prohibited. 

However, language is proposed to require berms to be designed, constructed and located so as not to obstruct off-site surface water and for developments be designed so as not to interrupt natural flowway corridors, exacerbate flooding, or reduce water basin storage or water quality within the watershed.

Policy 18.2.4 is meant to encourage the preservation of land through acquisition. This includes programs such as Conservation 20/20. Acquired lands could be used for conservation, preservation, and flood mitigation.

The Transportation Element in the Lee Plan and the LDC already address many of the items in the existing Goal 18.

Existing Policy 18.2.1 addresses the expansion of state arterials.  This is not appropriate in the Lee Plan.

Existing Policy 18.2.2 seeks to assure that road capacity improvements are compatible with surrounding areas.  This is addressed county-wide within the Lee Plan where roadways are identified as Urban, Suburban or Non-Urban based on the adjacent future land use categories.  In addition, design standards, based on the roadway types and location (urban, suburban, and non-urban) is provided in LDC Sec. 10-296. 

Existing Policy 18.2.3 addresses the potential future extension of Del Prado Boulevard east of I-75; however, this is not currently in any short or long range plans so it is not necessary at this time.  If, in the future the extension of Del Prado Boulevard is added to long range transportation plans there will be opportunities to review alternative alignments.

Please also note that transportation needs are analyzed on a regional basis and improvements are based on serving Lee County residents as a whole.

Impacts of new developments are reviewed on a case by case basis at time of rezoning or development order applications.

The proposed Lee Plan and Land Development Code provisions are based on the input received at the Visioning Workshop held on March 6, 2018.  The key issues were flooding, commercial development, residential development, parks & recreational opportunities, and public notice for plan amendments and zoning actions.

The boundary is shown on Lee Plan Map 1, Page 2 of 7.

Yes, in addition to the required public hearings, a public informational meeting will be required prior to an applicant submitting an application to rezone a property, as proposed in amendments proposed to Chapter 33 of the Land Development Code.

The proposed amendments are a complete rewrite of Goal 18 regarding the Bayshore community.  The existing Goal 18 and vision statement will be shown in strikethrough and the new language will be shown in underline in Attachment 1 of the staff report prior to being heard by the Local Planning Agency.

The Bayshore community does not currently have specific LDC regulations.  All LDCs specific to the Bayshore Community Plan area are new.

The County is on hold in regards to the site off Bayshore Road, in that we are reviewing other properties that are currently on the market.  We are evaluating at least 10 properties, of which two are located within Cape Coral.  These options with be discussed with our Board members along with concept plans and schedules for development. 

The Leetana RPD is currently under the Hearing Examiner’s review.  Once the Hearing Examiner completes her review and issues a recommendation, the case will be scheduled for a public hearing before the Board of County Commissioners. 

Nalle Grade Road in North Fort Myers was closed between Welborn Road and Bowen Road, from Monday, March 18, through Wednesday, March 20, to allow a contractor to replace a culvert just west of Welborn Road. The culvert replacement is part of a surface water management/restoration project underway by the Lee County Department of Natural Resources. The work, within the Nalle Grade Park, is intended to improve the Bayshore Creek system through water quality treatment and flood protection.

The Development Order (DOS2015-00083) has been issued.

The Development Order (DOS2018-00034) is currently being reviewed.