MINUTES
SMART GROWTH
September 19, 2007 Draft Minutes
Time and Place:
Wednesday, September 19, 2007 at 6-8 p.m., 1st
Floor, Lee County Administration Building at 2115 Second Street, Fort
Myers, Florida.
1.
Call to Order, Introductions,
Review of Agenda
Chairman Hammond opened the meeting of
the Lee County Smart Growth Advisory Committee at 6:03 p.m. He asked
members and the public for introductions from around the room.
The following
committee members in attendance:
Mr. Lee Ford
Ms. Carie Call
Ms. Ellen Lindblad
Mr. Neal Noethlich
Mr. Damon Romanello
Dr. Margaret Banyan
Ms. Liz Paul
Ms. Jill Tyrer
Mr. Jack Luft
Mr. Ron Hamel
Dr. Bill Hammond
Ms. Whitney Gray
Mr. Steven Teuber
Mr. Mike Mullins
Ms. Margaret Fineberg
The following committee members excused absence:
Mr. Brian Griffin
The following staff in attendance:
Ray Judah, Commissioner
Wayne Daltry, Director of Smart Growth
Tim Jones, County Attorney
Lucy Crook, Recording Secretary
2. Administrative Matters
A.
Approval of
Draft Meeting Minutes of July 18, 2007. Action
Needed: Accept and approve the minutes as amended by discussion of the
members.
MOTION - Carie Call moved to approve the July 18, 2007 draft minutes;
seconded by Ms. Gray. Called and carried.
3.
Discussion
A. Turning
Around Downtown:
Twelve Steps to Revitalization
Distributed. Mr. Daltry said this is
designed towards municipal organizations and gave examples where this
could apply to the Countys unincorporated areas of new and aging areas.
(Mr. Mullins arrived at 6:10 p.m.).
Planner Mr. Romanello addressed the City
of Fort Myers involvement in the historical project. He summarized the
handout and asked the Committee to encourage the County to act as a
leader and consider public/private partnership. To take the active
approach with mixed-use facilities, i.e.; affordable housing
opportunity, etc.
Mr. Daltry explained that the County
funds unincorporated areas in their redevelopment planning efforts and
gave some examples. One of the forums Smart Growth (SG) promoted was a
comprehensive approach for planning. Mr. Daltry asked, What has the SG
Initiative recommended and what is going on in county efforts at the
community level that we may learn from the 12 steps? He
summarized each of the steps in the attached
September 19, 2007 memo:
Step 1:
Capture the Vision The first thing to amend is the vision
statement.
Step 2: Developing a Strategic Plan
What is the institutional
infrastructure to operate? What is the concept of destination? What is
the character of the community? Who is carrying the process through?
Rallying the troops is a continuing process in the 12 step effort.
Step 3: Forge a Healthy
Private/Public Partnership -
Mr. Luft said the most direct way to facilitate a partnership is through
ownership of land. Take a proactive approach by simplifying and
streamlining development through control of strategic properties with
the private sector. Some of the discussion included: Use renewal of
lease and/or agreements for affordable housing; eminent domain for
clearing property for redevelopment; examples given on the East Coast
with public/private partnership (Ms. Lindblad arrived at 6:30 p.m.);
create incentives; do not support sprawl and put dollars into downtown;
ensure that other entities share responsibility; no competitiveness (Mr.
Luft left at 6:35); affordable housing could be garage apartments
and grandmother units; missing opportunity with user-friendly public
transit and commuter bus; housing costs have not dropped enough to help
with workforce housing.
Step 4: Make the Right Thing Easy
Mr. Daltry described how
active downtown Ft. Myers was five (5) years ago compared to now.
The vision changed. Discussed costs of commercial redevelopment related
to incentives; funding traffic configuration with Traffic Safety money
and Storm Water footprint with Public Works money. Important, but
difficult to have consensus on what is the right thing.
Step 5: Establish Business
Improvement Districts and Other Non-Profits:
Tool to use to help mobilize capital. (Mr.
Luft returned at 6:51 p.m.) It is necessary to create entities whose
mission is to make this spot work 24/7.
Step 6: Create a Catalytic
Development Company Some of
the discussion: Need critical mass in downtown Fort Myers; nobody is
providing market-rate public housing; public/private partnership would
provide market-rate affordable housing; have to address density with
smaller, attractive, affordable units in defined areas; address land
deal with long term land use; county can act as developer to move
forward with an agreement that works for mixed-use.
Step 7: Create an Urban Entertainment
District: In the past,
downtown Ft. Myers pulse was active all hours, but the vision changed.
To have downtown turn around, there has to be more going
on than just from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Step 8: Develop a Rental Housing
Market: Mr. Mullins said
affordable begins with renting, not purchasing. With regard to
partnership and market prices dropping, there may be affordability at
various levels through government subsidies and tax abatements and more.
Address getting capital if there is a way to transition housing from
rental into a purchase option.
Step 9: Pioneer and Affordable
Strategy: Back to the vision
statement. It involves knowing the market. There was mention of housing
cooperatives.
Step 10: Focus on For-Sale Housing
Ownership is one way to
turn around that gives a sense of community.
Step 11: Develop a Local Serving
Retail Strategy Retail needs
sidewalks; a user-friendly walk-able entry and driveway.
Step 12:
Re-Create a Strong Office Market There are many creative ways
to develop and change user perceptions, one of which is building an
excellent school.
Mr. Luft questioned incentive packages
for new development. He said when planning community pockets, a school
is a must. (Ms. Fineberg departed at 7:30 p.m.) There was
discussion on communities that are currently not walk-able.
B. Summary of DRGR Board Action (A summary to be provided):
Mr. Daltry said the Commissioners
asked SG to sponsor the Estero DRGR Public meeting of July 25, 2007. He
reviewed the Action
Plan for Density Reduction Groundwater Resource Area
attached. BoCC asked that approximately five (5) SG members consider
dual appointment on the 25 member Steering Committee. Mr. Daltry
concluded that the plan development should be completed within a year.
C.
FAPA Conference Items (A summary to be provided).
Mr. Daltry said soon he will send the
menu of efforts underway to the members. He has permission from all
authors. The material ranges from safe streets to how Miami-Dade went
through Smart Growth.
4.
Task Progress
A.
Member Issues
Overbuilding for the Lot
Tabled until Mr. Griffin returns.
B.
Other progress reports.
Public
Dan Moser said the downtown does not plan
adequately for bicycles. The importance of getting into calm areas is
overlooked to accommodate bikes to be able to ride with traffic with
urban plans. It encourages bikes on sidewalks where it is inappropriate
and not acceptable in a downtown setting.
5.
Adjournment: Chairman Hammond adjourned at 8:00 p.m.
Next meeting date is
October 17,
2007.
Respectfully submitted by:
Lucy Crook,
Recording Secretary
Lee County
Administration
County Administration
