Special to East Lee County News
Lee County staff has proposed significant amendments to the Lee County Comprehensive Plan, which could profoundly impact Northeast Lee County communities, including Alva, North Olga, and Buckingham. These amendments involve removing critical language from policies, goals, and objectives within the rural future land use category.
(The Lee County Comprehensive Plan is a legally binding document adopted by the Lee County Government. It establishes long-term goals and objectives for the county’s future, serving as the foundation for all land-use regulations in Lee County. Any amendments to the plan must undergo the Comprehensive Plan Amendment Process, which includes a series of steps, such as review by the Lee County Planning Agency.)
The proposed amendments claim to address potential future requirements for transitioning areas from septic systems to centralized sewer systems (CPA2024-00007). However, many residents see this as a pretext for increasing development density and intensity in rural areas. For example, the proposed changes could permit forty-foot-wide homesites with just ten feet between structures and allow attached single-family homes—housing types currently prohibited in rural areas.
Community members in Alva and Buckingham are particularly concerned that these changes could lead to mandatory assessments for surrounding property owners to cover the costs of forced utility connections.
On Monday, December 9, Lee County staff presented the proposed amendments to the Lee County Local Planning Agency (LPA), a seven-member advisory board of local residents appointed by the Lee County Commissioners. The LPA is tasked with reviewing such amendments to the Comprehensive Plan and land-use regulations. After conducting public hearings and considering community input, the LPA votes to recommend approval or denial of the amendments to the Board of County Commissioners. The LPA’s recommendations hold significant influence in shaping the county’s future development.
The proposed changes also appear to misuse House Bill 1379, which became effective on July 1, 2023. This bill, an amendment to Florida Statutes, focuses on environmental protection measures such as wastewater management, septic system regulation, and planning within Basin Management Action Plans (BMAPs). Lee County staff seems to be leveraging HB 1379 to justify the proposed amendments despite misrepresenting the law’s intent.
If approved, these changes would undermine the Comprehensive Plan’s goals and objectives for Alva, North Olga, and Buckingham. By facilitating development inconsistent with the rural character of these communities, the proposed amendments could erode the very identity these areas strive to preserve.
After hearing from several members of the public, all of whom opposed the proposed changes, the LPA Board after a confusing discussion of what options were available to the panel, chose to forward an admittedly inadequate work product to the board. Although several members voiced concern, a unanimous vote resulted in the LPA choosing to provide this set of changes to the Board of County Commissioners. Where is the advice, value and stewardship the residents of Lee County are entitled to?
Community members are urged to engage with the decision-making process to protect the unique rural heritage of Northeast Lee County and ensure that development remains consistent with the Comprehensive Plan’s original vision. To help develop a better understanding, visit this article online at EastLeeNews.com and follow the support links there.
