Matthew Gordon is the new member of the ECWCD.

Matthew Gordon of 502 E. 4th Street in Lehigh was elected as the new member to fill the vacant seat of Damon Shelor, who resigned two months ago from the Lehigh Acres Community Planning Corp (LACPC).

After the vote, he immediately took his seat at the table. The LACPC is composed of 15 members and meets on the second Wednesday night of every month to listen to developers and planners who want to build in Lehigh Acres. The board suggests changes or agrees with the plans and after appearing at a second meeting, sends a letter to the hearing examiner with comments about the proposed complex.

The LACPC also was the organization in the community who worked to get the Lehigh Plan completed by meeting with local residents and professionals who drew up the plan. That plan is close to being okayed by the state and will be incorporated into the Lee County Comprehensive Plan. Then the LACPC will work to implement the plan. The LACPC may also form an architectural group such as the one in Estero. It would insist on certain standards for developers and builders in the future and be recognized by the Lee County Commission who now tell developers to go to the ECWCD with their preliminary plans.

Matthew Gordon said he and his family have lied here for more than two years and were planning to make it their permanent home.

He said he had a diverse background including horticulture, landscaping, building trades, civil and mechanical engineering and real estate.

Kathy Ebaugh is a new planner with Lee County.

“My expertise is in the area of sewer, potable and non-potable water, and stormwater. However I have also worked in the areas of land development and architecture,” he said.

One other person also applied to fill the empty seat.

He was Waler Hank of 107 Airview Court in Lehigh who had Air Force military police training and a journeyman’s certificate for tool and die making. He said he was a member of the Lehigh Acres Kiwanis club and weekly thrift Store volunteer.

Meanwhile, after the vote, Edd Weiner, the LACPC chairman, introduced Kathy Ebaugh, a new planner in Lee County government, who said she would try to attend future LACPC meetings. She will assist the LACPC in implementing the new Leigh Plan.