Whether or not another communications tower in Lehigh Acres will resemble a tall tree brought laughter to members of the Lehigh Acres Community Planning Panel (LACPP) last week when Lee Chapman of Stuart, Fla., owner SCI Concepts Inc., asked for the board blessings for rezoning of a site off of SR82 near Meadow Road and between Kirkwood Street and Baseford Ave., to construct a communications tower.

Chapman brought a large two-page site plan with him with details of the proposed 149-foot tower that he said would be leased out to carriers like T-Mobile Verison, ATT&T and Metro PC and even for a broadband signal ISP if someone comes forth with a need.

Commissioners made suggestions to Chapman to make sure the area was beautified with bushes and trees, to hide the “stealth” tower. LACPP Chairman Edd Weiner laughed and asked what did “stealth” really mean.

“It’s a tower and people can see that it is a tower,” Weiner said. “But please don’t plant any palms within the gated area.”

Weiner, who is also ahead of the Economic Advisory Board in Lehigh, doesn’t like palms and it has become a joke whenever anyone comes before the LACPP and hears Weiner ask that they not plant palm trees.

However, in this case, Weiner learned that the county desires palms while other types of trees and shrubs can be planted to make the tract more attractive. Chapman, who is the owner of the planned tower, said it would require low maintenance and he would use reflection tape on it so helicopters won’t crash into it. He said he had talked to officials at the airport and that it was not a problem in any approach area.

Weiner said he hoped the tower wouldn’t look like one on Lee Blvd., where he said dead vegetation is ugly and “you can’t miss it if you’re driving down Lee Blvd.”

“It’s the ugliest thing on Lee Blvd.,” Weiner said. “Please add different trees like pines and oaks.

Calling it a compromise of sorts with the palms, which are mandated, Weiner said he hopesit is constructed so nobody can see the fence around it.

“And leave as much natural vegetation around it as you can,” Weiner added.

Linda Carter, a member of the LACPP, asked about how the tower’s services would be powered in an emergency if there was no electricity which happened a few years ago when a hurricane blew through Southwest Florida, leaving communication powers unable to transmit cell phone calls.

Chapman said each communications firm that leases space on his tower was responsible for providing backup power.

“They are mandated to have something to generate power, whether it be propane gas generators, battery backups or whatever. Those firms that wants to lease on the tower must provide their own power source, Chapman said.

LACPP Commissioner Frank LaRosa wanted to make sure that the tower was inspected on a regular basis.

“What if something drastically happened? “he asked. Chapman assured him that the tower would accounted for. He was asked by another member what if the tower were to fall. Chapman said he didn’t think that would happen as it would be built to withstand winds of up to 200 mph and that he has other towers and they have not fallen.

The LACPP took 50 minutes asking Chapman questions even though he was only asking for permission for rezoning.

Next, Kristy Cates also showed up to seek the panel’s endorsement for her to have land she lives on rezoned from residential to commercial. She said she lives in a house and is a daycare mother and she and her husband plan to move to another location and want to operate the home as a commercial day care center. The home is located at 3902 Sunset Rd., not far from the Sheriff’s gun range and mosquito control complex.

If the county changes the zoning, which is expected, Cates said had considered making the driveway a circular one but panel members didn’t think that was necessary when she said several cars come up into the wide driveway and only spend a couple of minutes picking up their children from the house now. And they don’t come at the same time, she added.

“I’m not planning on making many changes on the outside or the inside. I want to keep it as a home environment,” she said.

She said there was no opposition from a neighbor next door who is renting the house and the owner also has no problems with the home becoming a commercial day care center. She said the daycare center could care for up to 15 young children, beginning at the age of two.

While members of the LACPP continued to make suggestions about all types of things, they were reminded by Kathie Ebaugh, Lee County’s principal planner, that Cates was appearing to ask their support for a zoning change.

“That’s why she is here,” Ebaugh said.

Both Chapman and Cates were asked to come back to the LACPP meeting next month to get its recommendations.

While talking about land use codes and an upcoming meeting, Weiner suggested forming a group of people who may want to add changes for Lehigh’s future.

He had his own “wish list” that included such things as how to get businesses to build enclosures around existing dumpsters, and how to get businesses up and down Lee Blvd. to display their street address numbers.

“I can’t find anything I am looking for because of the way the number are. You can’t find them. Some have them displayed and others don’t,” he said. He also said he was concerned about “monument signs like at the Winn-Dixie Shopping Center as opposed to pole signs. Among other items, he brought up plans for burying underground electric wires, telephone and cable in Lehigh in the future. As for cable, Comcast will bury cable now if a customer calls their offices and usually at no charge.

Near the end of the meeting, the LACPP elected new officers. They included incumbent Edd Weiner as president and Thomas Pfuner as vice president and Matthew Gordon as treasurer. Nobody was elected to secretary and parliamentarian because few board members had shown up. The next meeting of the LACPP is March 9 at Veterans Park starting at 6:30 p.m. The public is encouraged to come and take part in the discussions.