County sets meetings for activity centers and future development

By Staff | Jun 10, 2015

Lee County’s Dept. of Community Development Division of Planning presented a comprehensive summary for the development of two activity centers in Lehigh, each designed to bring development to Lehigh and at the same time improve conditions such as sidewalks, beautification, and roads.

A presentation was made Saturday morning, May 31 at the meeting room of the East Lee County Regional Library with emails sent to dozens of people asking them to attend the meeting for the final plans for the two planned activity centers – the downtown area of Lehigh – and the area around Joel Boulevard in vicinity of the old Lehigh Corp.

Sharon Jenkins-Owen, principal planner for Lee County, explained in some detail plans that have come about so far, with community input at Saturday morning meetings for the past couple of years.

She noted that the county is evaluating the redevelopment potential of two activity centers in Lehigh known as the Downtown and Admiral Lehigh Neighborhood.

She noted that with limited areas for commercial development and employment centers, the purpose of the effort is to identify new strategies to bring commerce to Lehigh.

Since the adoption of the Community Plan in 2008, the county has continued to work with the community to develop strategies to create centralized urban centers, she said.

While the plan consists of many aspects, Jenkins-Owen said streets in Lehigh are difficult to travel to get to a destination because most streets run north and south.

Jenkins-Owen noted that more east to west streets are needed and said for a starter, Taylor Lane is a recommended first project and in the Neighborhood, the creation of a central park feature and public road expansion is recommended.

She suggested that Taylor Lane, running east to west, be expanded, and continue to Business Way, the street where the U.S. Post Office is located as is an assisted living complex. But to obtain that goal, those in the audience which numbered around 35 people, noted that the Winn-Dixie supermarket in in the direct path. Jenkins-Owen suggested that the owners of the property should be approached and a discussion brought about so that when Winn-Dixie one day comes up with a new store or some other development, that the road realignment be a part of the discussion process.

Jenkins-Owen was joined by Shellie Johnson of Ensite in Fort Myers, who has worked with the county making plans for the redesign and hopefully new development down the road. Ensite are experts in planning and landscape architecture with urban design and engineering sustainability.

An “Executive Summary” was made available to those who attended the meeting and the two women spoke about land use, transportation plans in the future, utilities and stormwater management.

The report noted future needs assessments which included land use, transportation and utilities, too.

“Specifically, we need to focus on improving the grid of streets as a first step in land use,” Jenkins-Owen said. This was the point when she mentioned the future potential extension of Taylor Lane.

She also said the creation of a central park feature and public road expansion is highly recommended.

In the transportation plans in both activity centers, the development of a new transportation network that includes enhancements to the street network (street grid), bicycle and pedestrian facilities and transit services were emphasized.

The study has concluded that the redevelopment of the Downtown and Neighborhood is envisioned as a promotion of a mixed-use development lifestyle that affords residents convenient access to necessary services and begins to create destination-oriented business and entertainment centers.

It was noted that this form-based approach to development requires a physical land pattern that encourages a higher concentration of residential densities and commercial intensities to support these areas of commerce. The resulting land pattern will encourage a living environment that ultimately reduces the need for leaving the Lehigh Acres community to fulfill basic needs, and offers the intrinsic benefits of an age-in-place, sustainable “walkable community”

The conclusion of the summary of the plan noted that the commitment of the residents of Lehigh is in place and represents the collective wisdom needed to create the future they envision.

“Through ongoing strategic planning that includes local leadership and government, community and business partnerships, the creation of an environment that supports local economy and fosters community success can be achieved,” the reported stated.

When the audience was given an opportunity to speak, the meeting quickly turned into another “vent” session where those that attended complained about Lehigh over and over again. Some complained and questioned “round-abouts” in the downtown area. It had not been clearly explained if they were still in the plans for Alabama and Homestead roads.

Lee County Commissioner Frank Mann, who has attended several of the Saturday morning meetings at the library, stood up and told everyone that the purpose of the meeting was not to vent what he called their frustrations.

Mann noted that if a good plan is presented to developers, they will come. Mann mentioned Rep. Matt Caldwell’s HB 11255 which would give Lehigh residents more local authority. The bill was waiting the governor’s signature. Without it, the bill becomes law.

“I hear your frustrations. I hear them,” Mann said.

“We need to have another meeting and this time bring out large photographs of what Lehigh will look like with the suggestions everyone has made at previous meetings.

“We need to bring big charts here the next time. I think it will be advantageous for a good meeting,” Mann said before the meeting end.