Florida House Bill 7129 and Senate Bill 1122, or the Comprehensive Planning and Land Development Regulation Act, could be revised if approved during this year’s legislative session, and have impact locally not only in Cape Coral but in Lehigh Acres.
Cape Coral Councilmember Marty McClain said the revisions could positively affect the city, by preventing urban sprawl. The legislation would create avenues for larger land assemblage in pre-platted communities.
McClain added the revision could have an impact on dozen different cities around the state.
“We’ve been trying to get this through a half dozen years or so,” McClain said. “The House and the Senate are comfortable moving forward with the bill … the reception we got was well received by both sides.”
McClain was part of a Lee County contingent that travelled to Tallahassee as part of “Lee County Days”, when local policy makers, business folks and community leaders take audience with state officials and agencies.
Like McClain, Cape Coral Construction Industry Association officials held court with state policy makers, focusing on how to positively effect the city’s builders.
The smalltooth sawfish and the city’s bald eagle ordinance were two points they focused on specifically, according to CCCIA Executive Director Heather Mazurkiewicz
“We had a productive meeting with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and we have them looking up an Attorney General opinion on the validity of the current eagle ordinance,” she said. “We’re trying to find out if a more stringent guideline than that of the state is even enforceable.”
Mazurkiewicz said smalltooth sawfish discussions didn’t yield tangible results, but simply alerting the agencies to the complexities of dealing with elusive fish was important, too. She said, too, that she felt the the trip was a success for everyone.
“From a city standpoint, from a CCCIA standpoint, from a county standpoint, it was an extremely successful trip,” she said.