Nino Pender

Three new members became a part of the Lehigh Acres Community Planning Panel and say they are ready to help do what it takes to make Lehigh a better place to live. Although five vacancies were open on the board, only three showed up with their resumes. Two others, who were expected to be at the meeting, did not come.

The new three members are Nino Pender, Kevin Polley, and Enrique DeAndress. They were unanimously voted in and were seated as part of the board which met for the first time at the annex building of the Brava Station of the Sheriff’s Station on Homestead Rd.

They have been meeting at Veterans Park, but because of a complaint that the group was not “officially recognized,” they would have to pay rent. Whether or not members are officially recognized as the group where developers and builders go to and present their plans for new projects in Lehigh Acres, it is the organizations in Lehigh that hosts meetings for prospective builders.

And it is the meeting that is attended by Lee County planners that have guided the committee for the past several years in the development of a Lehigh Plan to become a part of the overall long range plan for the county.

“Lehigh is different inasmuch as the people here have said this is the way they want things to be and we in the county are dedicated to bring that about,” said Kathie Ebaugh, Lee County principal planner, who was at the meeting last week.

Kevin Polley

She gave a Power Point presentation to show the board how changes will come about in Lehigh as far as development. She explained how different areas that are present commercial will become sections that are more people friendly with plenty of walkways, open areas, trees and retail and business development near present day residential development.

Accompanying her was Tony Palermo, a senior planner in the Division of Zoning for Lee County, who also gave a presentation. He said Lehigh was one of the largest residential platted communities in Florida. Both Ebaugh and Palermo compared Lehigh to Orlando Orlando in size, but lacking smart development.

Ebaugh praised those who attend the last few Saturday morning meetings held at the East County Regional Library where the Lehigh land use plan is being finalized.

“We have about 30 to 35 people when we meet and it is a good group, very active. We see the same people at each meeting with perhaps a few new people,” she said.

The next meeting is July 9 from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. and it will be held at the East County Regional Library on Gunnery Road. She said the July meeting will be where Phase 2 of the Lehigh Plan is decided upon. She urged everyone who can come to the meetings to do so they will know and understand the future plans for Lehigh Acres.

Enrique DeAndres

Ebaugh showed in Power Point presentations how an area can be changed in appearance to include attractive Mixed Used Centers, a way developers are now looking at ways to improve communities that will ultimately reduce traffic congestion and bring the things important to people to their neighborhoods.

“These are places where people can walk under shade trees and enjoy themselves. Retail and business structures are brought to the front of the mixed used centers and bike ways are installed and walkways across streets are well designed while now there are areas in Lehigh that highways go through and there are no places for pedestrians to walk because of strip centers and long walks.

Members listened and agreed that a lot of what has been proposed for Lehigh may not show up for another 15 to 20 years.

“But it is our job in the county to do this for Lehigh,” Ebaugh said.

Her presentation can be seen on the Internet since few people attended the LACPP meeting, partly because of confusion as to where the meeting was being held for the first time. Go to: www3.leegov.com/dcd/ComprehensivePlanning/EAR/VisionFrameworkFinal.pdf.

Tami Baker, a member of the LACPP said the large meeting room at the Bravo Station was being provided by the Sheriff’s Office.

Although taxpayer money built Veterans Park for the use of the people, the county has will not allow such groups to use the facility without paying rent.

The next meeting of the LACPP will be July 11 at 6:40 p.m. at the Sheriff’s substation. All meeting are open to the public. LACPP Chairman Edd Weiner said there is is plenty of parking and those who want to attend should enter a door at the rear of the building, just across from the back of the Senior Center.

For the complete copy of the Lee Plan, readers may download and save a pdf on their computer hard drive or a thumbnail drive. Go to: www3.leegov.com/dcd/Leeplan/Leeplan.pdf.