×
×
homepage logo
STORE

Planning Panel meeting includes updates from Hall

By Staff | May 18, 2010

Lee County Commission Chairwoman and local representative Tammy Hall recently came to the North Fort Myers Planning Panel monthly meeting to fill local representatives in on a broad range of issues.

In a relaxed atmosphere, Hall spoke candidly about more than a dozen county and state projects that could impact the local community, and addressed questions about growth in the area.

Among the numerous topics covered including the purchase of a local utility company, Waterways Estates and the North Fort Myers Library.

A local utility company is in process of being purchased by the state. Florida Governmental Utility Authority will be purchasing North Fort Myers Utility.

“Terms have been approved by the FGUA for acquisition at a price of $55 million cash and up to $25 million futures (a price paid each time there is a new connection) over the next 20 years,” said Hall. “The requested closing date is July 15, 2010, which may be very difficult to achieve.”

How will this affect NFM residents?

“LCU (Lee County Utilities) would need to construct facilities to do an interconnect with the FGUA system, so there would be an inconvenience associated with construction activities. The interconnect would require a route study, design and permitting and would probably not be complete for two to three years.”

On what is happening at Waterways Estates, Hall said the pump station is staying, and was asked if the county would enter into talks about a possible future marina and more greenspace use.

“This would need to be a Board of County Commissioners’ decision upon successful completion of the FGUA acquisition and interconnect agreement with LCU,” Hall said.

Will people be able to fish, go there if cleaned up?

“Again, that would be a BoCC decision only after FGUA acquisition of NFMU system.”

One issue that was important to local resident and president of the North Fort Myers Civic Association Gregg Makepeace was the future status of the North Fort Myers Library, and if their could be a possible expansion.

“North Fort Myers is certainly amongst our busiest libraries, with usage and attendance that at times stress the facility’s ability to meet demand,” said Hall.

Makepeace said he was amazed at the number of people who use the local library, not only from North Fort Myers, but from Cape Coral and surrounding areas because of the quality of the facility, its resources and location.

“Civic Association members got over 600 signatures for those that want a bigger and better library in North Fort Myers. We’re still collecting more and then we’ll present them to the Board of County Commissioners to get their attention of the need.”

Attendance at the Planning Panel meeting included a diverse group of individuals who give their time to several local organizations that are concerned about future growth in the area.

“The public needs to know we have four of these groups – the Planning Panel, The Design Review Panel, the Civic Association and Chamber of Commerce,” said Makepeace. “They all have different tasks, different usages – our toolbox. I hope the people understand this and use it. We need more involvement with all of these groups in the community.”