Civic & Community Center: Next NFM Civic meeting set for March 8
Don’t miss the NFM Civic Association meeting, March 8 from 7 to 9 p.m. at The Rec Center- calendar it. Elections will take place for the last vacant seat on the Board of Directors for a 3-year term and all officers will be elected for a 1-year term. Awards will be presented to outgoing directors Lee Cummins, Frank Barrett and Greg Makepeace for their many years of dedicated and effective service to this organization and the people of NFM. “Visitor Time” will afford non-members and members to ask questions, voice concerns and propose action items. Many items of action will be considered. Send me your email address to get on our email list to see Agendas, Minutes and much more. Go to our website, www.northfortmyers.com, soon to have a major infusion, to download a membership application-dues are a minimal $10 for a single, $15. For a family and $35 for a business, which includes a free ad on our website.
Thursday, Feb. 25, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the NFM Recreation Center was the time and place of the Annual Town Hall Meeting of the NFM Community Planning Panel. Yours truly, as Chair of The Panel which has been holding this event for many years, served as the Master of Ceremonies. Chuck Ballaro’s article on this happening goes into more depth than this generalized column can do, but here is an overview of what took place:
I explained the purpose and function of the Planning Panel, and of the NFM Civic Association, which co-sponsors both the Planning Panel and the NFM Design review Panel, and Al Giacalone, outgoing President of the Chamber, which is the other co-sponsor of the two Panels, explained what the Chamber of Commerce does.
Lee County Commissioner Frank Mann, our Keynote Speaker, whose area of responsibility includes the eastern part of North Fort Myers, discussed many county projects in the planning stage and made the long-awaited announcement that the county had selected and awarded the bid for the $50,000 marketing assessment study for NFM.
Sharon Jenkins-Owen, principal planner, Lee County, provided a narrative using a PowerPoint slide show of the planning and zoning in NFM and discussed the concept of “Opt-in Zoning” which would give the owner of land zoned commercial the option to instead select a different type of zoning for that parcel, thereby saving about a year to go through the normal process of changing the zoning. Yours truly asked if that same concept of “Opt-in Zoning” could be utilized to create a Riverfront Commercial type of zoning for our 18 miles of riverfront, most of which is zoned residential. We presently have only one riverfront restaurant, only two lodging facilities, a motel and a hotel, and two or three marinas – surprisingly light for an 18-mile riverfront stretch, and the residential zoning would appear to be holding back riverfront light commercial development on larger parcels. Jenkins-Owen said she liked the idea and hopefully something will come of it.
She also briefly discussed the provisions of Land Development Code 33-1596 dealing with social service facilities along the commercial corridor consisting of both 41s, Pondella, Hancock Bridge Parkway and Pine Island/Bayshore. This was presented in detail at the NFM Community Planning Panel meeting on March 1 between 6 and 8 p.m. at the rec center.
Dick Thomas, president of the Design Review Panel explained the function of that group, and reviewed the more significant proposed projects that came before that group for public presentation during the past year.
Linda Yorde, longtime library advocate and President of the Friends of the NFM Library, traced the history of the steps leading to the recent decision by the Lee County Board of Commissioners to commit to building a $13 million new library for NFM, selection of the site on two lots to the immediate south of the present outmoded and undersized library, utilization of the present site for parking, re-zoning said lots to permit construction of a library, acquisition of the parcels, design and architectural plans, public input as to same, and construction completion possibly two years from now.
This was followed by a discussion of North Shore Park, that sliver of riverfront ground on southbound Rt. 41 just before crossing the bridge to Fort Myers, which is the last thing you see in NFM coming from Cape Coral and points north, and the first thing one sees when entering NFM from Fort Myers. The main concern is the frequent river pollution marring the beautiful sunset and river views. This problem was addressed by Keith Kibbey, operational manager, Lee County Natural Resources, who has been testing water for a quarter of a century. He explained that finding the source was complex and expensive, tests would be inconclusive and it would be a waste of time and money to try a cure without first knowing the cause. He opined that the source of the pollution might be septic tank leakage. Our law currently requires septic tank inspection only once, when installed. At a minimum, in my humble opinion, it should be inspected each time the property is sold, but better yet, every five years. Stay tuned as our NFM groups dig further; this situation is intolerable and must be corrected – we do not want to become another Flint, Michigan!
Next up was Colleen Via, North District senior supervisor, Lee County Parks & Recreation, who explained potential projects under way. A playground is planned for Community Park between the shuffleboard courts and the baseball field, and estimates are being sought. There is a survey planned for this area where the public can weigh in on what else it wants, and there is a survey already online to do the same for the former pool and Senior Citizen site on Orange Grove.
This was followed by a discussion of the NFM Renaissance Campaign, which follows on the heels of successes by the NFM Civic Association including four prominently located highway billboards with the message “I’m Sold On North Fort Myers, the Opportunity side of the river; a full-colored promotional brochure showing what NFM has to offer; the creation of the NFM Marinatown Farmers’ Market every Friday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. – try it, you’ll like it; the recommendations of Greg Stuart, urban planner, and John Talmage, economic development consultant; the enthusiasm and momentum created by the Renaissance Campaign Kickoff Luncheon at Capt’n Fishbone’s Restaurant at The Shell Factory with a capacity crowd and all five county commissioners present at which time Commissioner Brian Hamman announced a $50,000 expenditure for a NFM marketing assessment study; followed by Lee County’s commitment for a new $13 million library. The Renaissance Campaign Committee is a group of community leaders, county government officials and staff, stakeholders, residents with certain skills, merchants, civic groups and others for the purpose of turning this town and its commerce around, instilling a sense of community pride, optimism and participation, promote all segments of the community, and much more. The meeting is scheduled for March 10, the day before the surgeries to both of my eyes. If you are interested in participating, please contact me within the next few days.
The next speaker was John Gardner, co-chair of the Horizon Council’s NFM Commercial Corridors Revitalization Task Force, who explained what that group is seeking to accomplish and how. Their concern is limited to the area between the two 41s, from the Bridge to Pondella. John announced that the three firms selected to do the NFM Marketing Assessment study will be here on March 9 with a day and evening full of meetings to commence their study.
Next the “Development Project of the Year” was awarded to TSC Tractor Supply Co. on Bayshore and The Crossings at Hancock Creek, an assisted living facility on Hancock Bridge Parkway. Drive by these two fine structures and see how they improve the appearance and commerce of NFM.
The evening ended with the development of a “wish list” for NFM and input from the audience. Ideas thrown out for further thought and effort were: bocce courts, outdoor pickle; hopes for a public boat ramp; a NFM Cultural /Performing Arts Center; a facelift to our front door at North Shore Park including new landscaping, some beach sand (this area was once known as “Yankee Beach”) and the sale or use of the former Waterway Estates sewage plant, vacant for years.
This was an excellent opportunity to ask questions on any local public issue and give your input, and to participate in grassroots democracy! Don’t miss this one next year about this time. During the interim offer your input and ask questions during “Visitor Time” at The NFM Civic Association meetings the second Tuesday of each month from 7 to 9 p.m. at The Rec Center.
The NFM Community Planning Panel and Design Review Panel has a vacancy, and hopes to fill it soon. Anyone interested in being elected to these vacancies, please send a resume promptly to mike-land@live.com. These volunteer groups meet jointly on the first Tuesday of each month from 6 to 9 p.m. at The NFM Recreation Center. Go to www.nfmcpp.com, for more info on these panels.
The North Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce is conducting its Taste of North Fort Myers on Sunday, April 10, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at The Shell Factory. Admission is $3 per person-children 10 and under free. This year’s entertainment features The Country Express Band and the ever-popular Calendar Girls. This event includes Food, Entertainment and Family Fun, and is one of the biggest “happenings” in NFM. Food Vendors and Business Vendors, secure your spots and anyone with questions contact www.TasteofNorthFortMyers.com.
The Chamber is also doing a Bingo Luncheon, open to the public, on May 14 (and four other dates later in the year) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Herons Glen, 2250 Avenida Del Vera. Tickets are $18 pp or $124.00 prepaid for a table of eight, which includes lunch, nine free bingo game cards and a chance to win great prizes and raffle prizes.
A fun and different event is the Sixth Annual Dining in the Dark “Farm To Table Country Affair” to benefit the Lighthouse of Southwest Florida presented by and at Mike Greenwell’s 31 Produce on Rt. 31 north of Bayshore Road on April 9. Save the date and dress up “country.”
PUBLIC APATHY IS THE PLAGUE OF THE 21ST CENTURY! VOLUNTEER-IT’S GOOD FOR THE MIND AND THE HEART. Mike Land
Contact me at 239-823-3631 or mike-land@live.com if you have some event, project or idea that you would like in this column, or with any comments or questions. Thanks for following this column.