MEL TOADVINE Tony Palermo, a senior planner with the Department of Community Development for Lee County, gestures as he makes certain points about the latest version of a vision statement for Lehigh Acres. Shown next to Palermo is LACPP members Steve Conti, and at right Frank LaRossa.

Robert Robbins of Lehigh Acres, one of a handful of people who attended the Lehigh Acres Community Planning Panel (LACPP), told board members that he had a different opinion in the ongoing controversy regarding the construction of a rock mine in Collier County. The LACPP has been against the mine and has asked county officials in Collier to not allow the construction of the mine.

Board members Edd Weiner and Steve Conti, who attended a recent advisory board in Collier County, said the construction of a mine would have adverse effects on nearby neighborhoods and would cause SR82 to become over burdened with 1200 trucks a day.

Robbins said he understood the position of the LACPP but reminded them that having the Lost Grove Mine near the Lee County border be allowed to move forward could mean added jobs for Lehigh Acres. The advisory board in Collier County has recommended not building the mine and their decision will go before the Collier County Commission in May.

But Edd Weiner, the chairman of the LACPP, said mine blasting would be a bad thing to allow and crowding heavy trucks of rock on SR82 was unacceptable. He said the widening of SR82 is tentatively planned for 2035.

“We all won’t be around then,” he said. “That is a long way off before the road is improved to handle the traffic.”

Edd Weiner

Those at the meeting held April 11 at the Sheriff’s Annex off of Plaza Drive, heard Tony Palermo, a senior planner, offer a brief explanation of the latest draft of the vision statement for Lehigh Acres and especially Goal 32 which explains plans for the future of the community. Kathy Ebaugh, the principal planner, works with Palermo. She was unable to attend last week’s meeting, but is present at most of them.

Copies of the vision statement were handed out to LACPP members and Palermo explained some parts of the Goal 32 statement and answered questions. The mission statement has been tweaked after suggestions from some on the board and from residents in the community.

Those who want to read the latest version can go online at: leegov.com and follow the links to community development and to the plan. Palermo said Lehigh residents may notify the planning department with any questions or suggestions for the plan.

He noted that he and Ebaugh are hoping to have a final version ready for the county by summer and be ready to become a part of the Horizon 2025 plan.

Edd Weiner, the LACPP chairman, suggested the word “will” be changed to “shall” in parts of the document.

“If we show developers what it shall be, they will be more interested.”