Guest Comment: Regaining local control of our community
The Greater Pine Island Civic Association was created more than 40 years ago as a voice for residents and business owners, advocating for the health, safety and quality of life in our community. Today, as residents of St. James City, Pine Island Center, Pineland, Bokeelia, Matlacha, Matlacha Isles and Cape Royal, we have an important decision to make about our future.
Over the decades, GPICA has worked to preserve and maintain a desirable, livable community that promotes smart growth and preserves sensitive natural areas by working with Island residents to develop a future land-use plan – the Pine Island Plan – governing growth rules. Over the past two years, these protections have been put at risk:
n After legal challenges to the Pine Island Plan, the Lee County Commission revised it in 2016 to allow greater building densities.
n On Dec. 12, 2016, the city of Cape Coral annexed six parcels covering 5.47 acres in Matlacha. Members of the Greater Pine Island Community had no say in the vote and, under Cape zoning rules, the city could add additional boat ramps, a marina and buildings up to eight stories tall.
In addition to the public safety risks that increased building densities pose to the Island during hurricane evacuations, they also risk the coastal-rural way of life that embodies our community.
In response, GPICA is studying whether Island residents could better control our destiny by incorporating as our own town. GPICA hired BJM Consulting Inc. to conduct an initial feasibility study to explore whether incorporation would be financially possible. We also completed an analysis of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) related to incorporation and today we’re sharing highlights of our initial findings. (Full reports can be found at www.gpica.org).
We are also asking for your help. The GPICA has created a postcard where you can vote on whether we continue investigating the idea of incorporating Greater Pine Island. We ask that you simply answer, share your email address if you have one, and drop the postcard in the mail. Please return the postcard no later than July 21.
We will use this unofficial ballot as a gauge of community interest and support. It is a non-binding vote and you may change your opinion on incorporation later. The findings will help us decide our next steps in our efforts to protect and preserve our community. Your voice matters! Please let us know what you think.
We thank you for your help,
Greater Pine Island Civic Association Board Members: Roger Wood, President, with members Claudia Bringe, Carol Crane, Bryan Crane, Tim Heitz, Nancy Hindenach, Greg Lehman, Nadine Slimak, Scott Wilkinson
GPICA Incorporation Subcommittee Members: Noel Andress, Ken Cox, Michael Dreikorn, Mike Shevlin, MaryKay Stevens, Greg Stuart
Roger Wood is president of the Greater Pine Island Civic Association Board