No regard to fairness, private property rights
To the editor:
I am a professional engineer, developer and a 28-year resident of Pine Island. I do not own any land designated “Coastal Rural.” However, the latest conflict over the “Pine Island Plan” is just plain wrong. Every week there are letters and speeches by the anti-growth elements on Pine Island trying to influence our County Commissioners to honor the “plan,” right or wrong.
There is another side to this story. The Pine Island Plan was not voted on by the rank and file of Pine Island residents, but was developed by a loud consensus of people with the view “I’m here now close the gate.” Many joined this chorus for noble reasons such as conservation, preservation and safety (hurricane evacuation). All arrived at the same “solution;” if we can close the gate, every current resident is better off. There was no consideration given to fairness or private property rights.
Now Lee County faces a dilemma; fight to preserve the Pine Island Plan, which our own county attorneys indicate is not defensible in court, or compromise on the density issue. According to the Burt Harris Act, government cannot steal away individual property rights (value) without compensation no matter how “noble” the cause. By establishing density of 1 unit per 10 acres or 1 unit per 17 acres, the county effectively prohibited residential development. The Pine Island Plan took this use away from the landowner. The numbers just don’t work. You cannot have lots this size and provide the necessary infrastructure without the lots costing $500,000. If someone had that kind of money they’d buy two direct access canal lots and not be in the middle of a farm field or pine-palmetto forest. The economics do not work for any residential projects at that density, which explains why there have been no residential development orders issued in the “Coastal Rural” category since its conception.
In the interest of fairness there is a solution. If the residents of Pine Island truly want to deny residential use to the undeveloped land on the island, pay for it. I’ve heard liability estimates as high as $200 million concerning this issue. According to recent estimates there are 12,000 permanent residents on Pine Island and 6,000 more seasonal residents. Assuming the “majority” are willing to support this effort, each household will need to contribute $20,000+/- to resolve this problem. Only Pine Island residents should contribute to this cause since it is for “them” and would not benefit other Lee County residents who live in South Fort Myers or Lehigh. The commissioners by referendum should ask the Pine Island residents to “tax” themselves to preserve the Pine Island Plan or they should compromise on the density issue.
Larry Hildreth, PE,
St. James City