Lee County actions affecting Pine Island: good and not so good
To the Editor:
First, the good news.
The county staff, in response to the numerous e-mails, letters and phone calls from Pine Islanders, has reversed itself and recommended that future “day-to-day commercial” facilities be located in Pine Island Center and the villages (instead of the rural areas as previously proposed). For the rural areas they proposed that commercial facilities be limited to “those that reflect the Coastal Rural character and unique culture of Greater Pine Island.” This revised provision was presented at the Local Planning Agency meeting on Aug. 24. It properly implements the Pine Island Plan requirement that Pine Island rural areas be “protected and preserved” and was strongly supported by the Greater Pine Island Civic Association. The staff change of heart was strongly opposed by the attorney for the Pine Island Agricultural and Landowners Association and the president of the Bokeelia Civic Association, but was approved by the LPA anyway in a vote of 5 to 2.
This matter will go for a vote before the county commissioners on Sept. 23. We expect that the PIALA and BCA will continue to argue for virtually unlimited commercial rezoning in Pine Island rural areas, so Pine Islanders need to continue to express their concern to the county commissioners. Please just tell the commissioners that you support the revised staff proposal that was approved by the LPA.
Now some maybe not so welcome news.
We have all long known that the inevitable debate over island-wide central sewer service was getting closer — well, that time has arrived. County staff recommended to the LPA at the Aug. 24 meeting that all of Pine Island be added to the county central wastewater (sewer) service area. The Greater Pine Island Civic Association asked that the action be delayed until next year so that hearings could be held on Pine Island this winter to discuss the issue. The staff and the LPA readily agreed, and Commissioner (Bob) Janes has agreed to host at least one meeting this winter (probably in December) on Pine Island for that purpose. We expect the county utilities staff to be there to provide briefings and answer questions. A lot of people on Pine Island support central sewer expansion and a lot of people oppose it, so the debate will no doubt be lively.
Phil Buchanan
St. James City