Activity centers for Lehigh reviewed

By Staff | Oct 26, 2016

Develop Lehigh logo

Incentives that are user-friendly are an important part in helping to bring more businesses to Lehigh Acres, according to Lee County Commissioner Frank Mann.

The second meeting of Develop Lehigh, an effort spurred by the Lee County Economic Development Office, was held on Oct. 19 at the Lehigh Regional Medical Center.

The effort aims to implement plans to bring more business and industry to Lehigh.

County staff previously worked with task forces in North Fort Myers and along the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard corridor.

Sharon Jenkins-Owens, principal planner for Lee County, and David Wagley, with the county’s Department of Transportation, spoke at last week’s meeting.

MEL TOADVINE Activity centers in Lehigh Acres was the topic of the presentation made by Sharon Jenkins-Owens and David Wagley.

Rachael Busch, strategic projects manager for the county’s EDO, was also on hand.

Jenkins-Owens and Wagley offered a presentation on the three activity centers planned for Lehigh, which have already been approved by the county at a cost of $500,000.

Local residents chose the three centers over a period of more than two years during meetings on Saturday mornings at the library.

The Lehigh Acres Community Plan and Lee Plan addresses enhancing the largely single-use pre-platted residential areas with vibrant neighborhoods, commercial and employment centers, mixed-use nodes, active parks and public spaces.

Identified as the Lehigh Acres Town Center project, the urban mixed-use centers will be:

– Along Homestead Road, south of Beth Stacey Boulevard

– Along Homestead Road, north of Milwaukee Boulevard

– Along Joel Boulevard, by the Admiral Lehigh Golf Club

Jenkins-Owens noted that Lehigh’s newest population figures are 106,000. In 2010, the population had reached 86,000.

With the improvement in the economy, it was noted that Lehigh has been listed by one national statistics firm as one of the fastest growing areas in America.

Jenkins-Owens also noted that two more activity centers are being considered for Lehigh, but their development is years away.

The draws mentioned to bringing developers to Lehigh have included its close proximity to Interstate 75 and Southwest Florida International Airport, as well as it being close to area beaches.

Busch pointed out that the work done by the task force in North Fort Myers could be of great help with the Develop Lehigh effort.

Charlotte Rae Nicely, executive director of Lehigh Community Services, attended the meeting.

She said she was happy with the turnout and encouraged task force members to bring friends with them to the next meeting.

She suggested that attendees bring a list of the three most important things they believe should be addressed in Lehigh.

The next meeting will be held on Nov. 15 at 2 p.m. in the cafeteria at the Lehigh Regional Medical Center.

For more information about the centers, contact Rachael Busch at 239-533-6818 or “mailto:rbusch@leegov.cvom”>rbusch@leegov.cvom. Residents can also contact Sharon Jenkins-Owens at 239-533-8535.

: MEL TOADVINE Activity centers in Lehigh Acres was the topic of the presentation made by Sharon Jenkins-Owens and David Wagley.