Frank LaRosa, a member of the Lehigh Acres Community Planning Panel (LACPP) told Chairman Edd Weiner at the board’s regular monthly meeting last week that he was surprised to read in the media that his resignation, along with fellow member Paul Lambertucci, was going to be called for at the meeting.

Neither of the two men was present at the September meeting when Weiner said he had learned that the men were involved with Frank Lohlein in asking for permission to use the Sheriff’s Bravo Station Annex to hold meetings for prospective developers and others who plan to build in Lehigh Acres, which Weiner said is a conflict of interest with the LACPP.

Weiner said he had been told by a Sheriff’s spokesman that another group was being formed to do the same thing that the LACPP and its Architectural Review Board have been doing now for several months, listening to applicants interested in developing businesses in Lehigh.

LaRosa said Weiner should have called him because it was not true. He said had no involvement in any such plan and was very angry that he had to learn his resignation was going to be sought by reading the newspaper.

“I have been a businessman in this town for a long time and am the only person elected from Day One by the people to serve on this board,” LaRosa said.

“I wasn’t appointed by this board. It has been my seven years of dedication and then only to read the accusation that I was going to be asked to resign,” LaRosa said.

“Nobody called me. I have no clue what you are talking about,” he shouted at Weiner. “Check with me on things like this.”

Weiner defended his call for the two to resign and said he had been told by an official in the Sheriff’s Office that the room had been sought for meetings by another group including LaRosa, Lohlein and Lambertucci.

“If you’re going to take a hit, a cheap shot at me, it’s not right,” LaRosa said.

Weiner said again that he had been told that Frank Lohlein had contacted the Sheriff’s Office and said LaRosa and Lambertucci were part of the group that planned to hold its own meetings for those who want to build and/or get a zoning change in Lehigh.

“That’s an obvious conflict of interest,” Weiner said. The two men went back and forth several minutes before member Steve Conti, a newer member said, “We need to get along here.”

LaRosa continued, saying he believe he had been stabbed in the back.

“You should talk to me,” he told Weiner again.

In the midst of the argument, member Paul Lambertucci said he felt he had done a lot of good things as a businessman for Lehigh, but was going to quit the board.

“I have a conflict. I can’t serve. I am resigning,” Lambertucci said. “We need to get back to what’s important in the community.” Then he got up and left the meeting.

There were also disagreements over LaRosa claiming that his personal email was being sent out. Member Tami Baker said it was not coming from the LACPP. She said all correspondence from the panel is sent to members and the press only with one click to send mail to the members.

“I’m putting you on notice. I don’t want my email given out,” LaRosa said.

He said he would not resign either.

There has been contention for the last several years on the board about it asking developers and others to come before the LACPP to present their plans. Within the last year, the LACPP has formed its ARB, an umbrella organization referred to as the Architectural Review Board. Planners and developers have met with that board, of which Weiner is also a member, and recommendations are passed on to the LACPP. The ARB charges fees which has brought criticism from LaRosa in previous meetings.

Nearly a year ago, Kathie Ebaugh, the county’s principal planner with the Lehigh Acres Land Code Project, made it clear that those who want to develop in Lehigh or to have zoning changes made must meet with people in Lehigh before going to the hearing examiner.

She said it was developers’ responsibilities to advertise, take minutes, and hand them over to the county. Even though the LACPP had assumed the role of asking developers to come before them, Ebaugh said they did not have to do that. She said they could even appear before another organization or club in Lehigh, as long as they have advertised their meeting.

That has not gone well with Weiner and some members of the LACPP who believe they have become the group that developers want to come to and present their plans. Weiner has often compared the LACPP and the ARB with a group in Estero. In essence, what Ebaugh’s statement meant was that the LACPP is a private group and is not commissioned by the county.

Now with the resignation of Lambertucci and another member, Willi Schwarzmeier, who has informed Weiner that he is unable to serve on the LACPP due to an illness, there are two vacancies and Weiner has asked the media to ask those that may want to serve on the board to send resumes to him at the Chamber of Commerce, at 25 Homestead Rd. He is the Chamber’s economic development director and works out of an office there.

Earlier in the meeting, Ebaugh gave an update to LACPP members about future hearings regarding the land use code and town center development.

For information on land codes information can be obtain on the Internet at: www.leegov.com/gov/dept/dcd/Pages/LDCAmendments.aspx. Information can also be gotten by contacting Ebaugh at 239-533-8325 or Senior Planner Tony Palermo at 239-533-8325.