What is Pine Island style?
The Coastal Rural land use designation is the cornerstone of the Lee County Future Land Use Plan for Pine Island. This came about as the result of the Greater Pine Island Civic Association sponsoring the update of the Greater Pine Island Community Plan. The elements of the plan were adopted into the Lee Plan, which controls future land use development. These various plans are commonly referred to as “The Pine Island Plan.” Goal 14 of the Lee Plan states its intent as follows: “To manage future growth on and around Greater Pine Island so as to maintain the island’s unique natural resources, character an its viable and productive agricultural community and to ensure that island residents and visitors have a reasonable opportunity to evacuate when a hurricane strike is imminent.” Notice the key introduction words, “To manage future growth.” It does not say “prohibit” or “eliminate.” There is a misconception among some of the island’s residents that the Pine Island Plan has placed a moratorium on all new construction. This is incorrect. The Pine Island Plan does not prohibit the building of homes on previously approved housing lots. It does maintain the building height restriction of 38 feet.
To accomplish the goal of a safe hurricane evacuation and to preserve our natural resources, the density of future land subdivision was reduced. Policy 1.4.7 of the Lee Plan applies to land formerly classified as rural and is now called “coastal rural.” It states, “The Coastal Rural areas will remain rural except for portions of properties where residential lots are permitted in exchange for permanent preservation of native upland habitats or a commitment, in the form of a perpetual easement, to preserve agricultural activity on existing farmland, on the remainder of the property. The standard maximum density is one dwelling unit per 10 acres. Maximum densities may be increased as higher percentages of native habitat are preserved or restored.” (or continued in agricultural use). Table 33-1052 of the Lee County Development Code shows the adjusted maximum densities. The GPICA has prepared a flyer to be handed at Pine Island events that shows the Density Table and the Future Land Use Map. This information is also available on the GPICA Web site at gpica.org.
To maintain the unique character of Pine Island, the Pine Island Plan restricts the use of gates and walls around housing developments and it encourages “Old Florida” (or “cracker”) building designs for commercial buildings. Some traditional features of the “Old Florida” designs are: buildings raised on stilts or the appearance of short piers, metal roofs, shade porches, window shutters, pier and post bracing and contrasting color trim and railings. Several commercial buildings in Pine Island Center were cited as examples in the plan. They were: Island Exchange, Pine Island Realty, Pine Island Professional Center and Wachovia Bank.
The Pine Island Plan promotes the look of the “Old Florida” style for residential construction, but this is not a mandatory requirement. The GPICA wants future residents and developers to know the unique character of Pine Island that we are trying to encourage and maintain. To that end we would like to post photos on our Web site of homes and buildings that best represent a Pine Island style. Many “Old Florida” or “cracker” houses are on existing lots and there is a wide variety of non-typical styles and colors. There are country ranches and unique houses on small rural lots all over the island. Many homes are surrounded by stands of pines and native vegetation. We’d like to see a mixture of residences sized from modest rural homes to big spreads. We are not looking for just House Beautiful type submittals, nor are we trying to create one fixed uniform building structure or appearance. These design ideas are simply suggestions. We want to encourage a lot of variety and imagination. We support freedom of choice to create your own version of Pine Island style. Some of the character of the island is the “characters” on the island.
If you own or are selling a home or building that you feel represents “Old Florida” and the unique character of Pine Island, e-mail PineIslandPix@gpica.org.
You can either attach your digital photo to your e-mail or request us to come out and take photos of your place. Some of these will be posted on the Web site at gpica.org. go to the page titled Coastal Rural and look for the link to the photos.