I attended the LACPC meeting last night, and I read a statement that I wrote. Below is the statement, and the following post will provide you with more follow-up information.

Mr. President, members of the board, I am Darnell K. Jordan, owner/operator of
LehighAcresLive.com and a homeowner in Lehigh Acres. I am unable to attend the
LACPC board meeting for December due to my employment requirements. I request
that this letter be read at the meeting “for the record.”

Last month I was impressed on how well the meeting was conducted. It appeared
all board members worked together as a team, and although it was rather lengthy,
it went fairly smoothly and was productive. It was a nice breath of fresh air.

Now, I do have a concern though. Several developers came to you requesting your
approval on rezoning some properties. One developer made the point that they
were on a time crunch, and needed the approval to be completed by Friday so they
could be heard by the county commissioners on Monday. Whose emergency was this?
It surely was not the LACPC boards.

For once I agreed with the action of Mr. La Rosa. He admitted he did not know
what he was doing, and he felt uncomfortable with taking action this quickly. I
wish more would have listened to him.

I understand it is important that Lehigh Acres develop more commercial
establishments, but at what cost? I think it would be more prudent for the board
to take a closer look at these requests. How many board members actually walked
the properties in question that evening? I bet none. You approved rezoning
several properties without feet on the ground and confirming the information
given to you by the developers are correct.

It is my recommendation that developers come you with theses requests, NO action
be taken at that time. Develop a committee or subcommittee and investigate their
rezoning requests, then take action at the next monthly meeting.

It would be easier to approve each request with confidence if you were to adopt
this or a procedure like it. Once you give your blessings, it would be hard for
you to complain about it later after construction has been started.

I want to thank you for your time in reading/hearing my message. Please consider
my request. Whatever you do, make sure you are comfortable with your decision.

Sincerely,

Darnell K. Jordan

After I read my statement, there was a board discussion lasting approx 40-45 minutes. After much discussion, the board agreed, and adopted a 30 day policy for approving these issues.

Will it work? Well, I say yes. Last night a development group (Goodwill) submitted a plan to place HUD housing on Gerald. The board reviewed the plans, made many recommendations to the developer, and told them to come back next month with the changes for approval.

Another developer presented his plans on building a gas station. More issues, and again they were told to make the changes and come back next month for approval.

I commend the board for making these decisions and adopting this new procedure.

Wow, that is some impressive "effort" by a lay person, LeeMedic. I know for a fact that you had no inside "pull" with the group.  This was one person, you, trying to make a difference because he felt that the group's process needed to be changed for the betterment of Lehigh Acres - ensuring that developers' proposals weren't "rubber-stamped" by the LACPC without further information (and being able to verify it).

Great job!

p.s. The only reason I made a comment re. not feeling a "one size fits all approach" isn't necessarily always the answer is I wanted to have an option/provision for a very small project to not be required to have to wait another 30 days to come back ... With Robert Anderson's motion that passed, there is no leeway - now everyone must return, even if they come to the LACPC for a minor/trivial request.  I do not want to unnecessarily burden folks who voluntarily come before the lay people of the LACPC before a "real" Architectural Review Board recognized by Lee County is in place (that will be comprised of "real" architects).  I will now step down from my soap box! 

Again, GREAT JOB, LeeMedic!!! 

I think this could be an easy fix. For minor changes like you are talking about, there could be a motion made to forego the 30 day waiting period.

You're always a step ahead of me

That is a perfect solution!

A 30 day approval process coming from laymans is really not acceptable.

If everybody that is Pro-Incorporation gets out the vote in 2008 and Lehigh Acres Incorporates in 2009 the LACPC will cease to exist as all development orders will go to City Hall where ever that may be.

The Count

The approval process we're talking about here sometimes just entails a non-binding 'Resolution' (blessing) from the LACPC Board before a developer he is ready to go before the BoCC (after all his ducks are in a row) -- But I do agree with you  'architectural-wise' <- the local planning group was originally comprised of Church representatives and others (I don't have the list in front of me - but I'm sure that you get my drift here). 

Some comments before this goes off the deep end.

Wysiwyg is right about the non binding status of the current process. The BOCC is looking for input and "a blessing" from the LACPC. There are forces in Lehigh that are fighting Lee County  about the status Lee County has giving the LACPC. We'll have to see how that works out and the solution to that problem is an Architectural review board/ zoning review board that is sanctioned  by the BOCC.

A 30 day approval period is NOT garranteed, if the developer doesn't listen and react to the LACPC's suggestions they may never get the support of the LACPC. The final decision still rests with the BOCC.

I agree that some special acommidations should be able to be agreed on to speed a case up if it is small, simple and makes sense. Common sense should prevail.

Let us not forget the original mission of the LACPC was to formulate a growth management plan for Lehigh/ East Lee County which envisions how our community should grow and develop over the next 20-30 years. In "laymans terms", what do the residents of Lehigh want their community to look like in 20-30 years and what needs to be done to get there?

Be careful of how you descrbe the original planning group membership unless you know you're facts. The initial seating was not what was intended at the formation. In an astounding display of indifference by the Lee County Community Development Department, CAIT (Citizens Aganist Increased Taxes, Frank Lohlein's group) took control of the LACPC membership with 7 seats on the board. It took two years of infighting and defections from CAIT to finally get the LACPC on track to doing the business it was formed to do.

I'll not get into fiasco anymore tonight and would rather leave all of that behind. There were some really good people on that board that did not want to take the abuse and waste their time. There current board is well rounded and has some technical expertise. For the most part I believe the LACPC is representative of the community, has people with common sense and a desire to do what is best for our community. Could we gain by having more technical expertise and cultural deversity on the board, yes. On the other hand, the technical expertise is being provided by WRT. What the LACPC has to do know is make sure the WRT is developing the best plan for Lehigh.

Thanks, LAC - Did not know that! I thought I had read some historical information about its initial membership comprised of a balance from the various community groups in place at the time. What we don't want to go back it time ... So thank you for the correction!

Wysiwyg.....When can we schedule my Jason's Deli lunch? I am hungry.

The Count

I was waiting for that comment, as December arrived more quickly that I realized ;0)

You didn't think I'd forget did you?

May I have a 1/2 Southwestern Chicken Sandwich with Chips and Bowl of Southwestern Chicken Chili, please.

Thank You!

(Just practicing my order)

The Count

And your good manners, too, I see (please and thank you).

What would you like to drink?!

My usual is an "Arnold Palmer" however they just give you a cup there and you get your own drink.

Thanks for asking. When are we going?

The Count