Signed in:  Jack Vealey, Gay Bennett, Andreia siemienski, Jim English, Martin Call, George Austin, Jack Liddell, Mike Dove, David Lee, Maria Pagan, Lynda Kendrick, Lynn Fensterer, Hugh English, Anita Buff, Mike Buff, Bob Oliver, Richard Woodruff, Gloria Weathers, Kathy White, John campion, David Goodrich, sarah Gillim, Rob Andrys.  

Rob Andrys, vice president, opened meeting for comment.  Comments from individuals are as follows:  

Jack Lidell – representative from Hickey Creeek/ Snyder Drive area.  Would like to know who to meet with to start the petition that was mentioned in the plan for that area.  Mike Dove will be the liason.

Boots Weathers -  Boots gave a letter to the Board which highlights his objections to the plan.  This letter has also been sent to county commission and Lee County Planning Dept.  He also gave a stack of signed papers from those opposed to being in he plan and a map that shows where they live.  He says there are about 100 names.  Rob asked if these were signed before or after this draft of the plan was available.  Boots said many signed before this draft of the plan was available.  Many of those signed live outside the area that the current draft of the plan addresses so will not be affected.  Carol Cunningham showed the group on a map that the area affected by the rural policies in the plan only includes land east of the Caloosahatchee Park and the Hickey Creek park.  Only the scenic highways designation would extend into areas west of the park land.

Bob Oliver -  Stated that he felt his concerns have not been heard.  He does not want his land in the plan and thinks the plan does “mess” with the densities.  He feels the commercial rights are being taken away by the policy prohibiting some commercial along SR 80.  He doesn’t think clustered hamlets are consistent with Alva development and the rural community.   He submitted a summary of his comments to ALVA inc and to the Lee County commissioners.  He said he has nothing against a civic group dealing with the design of SR 80 and other community issues but doesn’t want them telling others what to do with their property.

Richard Woodruff -  Represents Wilson Miller and Babcock , Florida .  Mr Woodruff read a letter  from Babcock which stated their unwillingness to be in the plan.  Babcock has asked Charlotte Co. for an amendment to their comp plan for increased density and plans to seek the same from Lee co.

Jack Vealey – Mr Vealey owns Jack’s Market in Lehigh and owns several parcels of property in the central Alva area which he would like to develop as commercial in the future.  He thinks the policy prohibiting commercial  along much of SR 80 to be a violation of property rights.  He submitted a letter to ALVA inc.

David Lee -  Thinks the plan is good.  Unplanned development is rarely good.  He compared Ft Myers Beach to Sanibel in this regard. 

Hugh English -  Mentioned that the state and fed govt buying land has increased land values around corridors like SR 80.  These land buying programs direct where growth goes.  Here it has been directed toward SR 80.

Jim English -   Stated that prohibition of commercial in such a broad area is not a good idea.   He doesn’t think off road commercial development will be successful and gave an area on MLK Blvd as an example.  He is concerned that drainage issues and the Alva cemetery were not mentioned in the plan.  The county currently expects cemeteries to operate under subdivision guidelines which means there are requirements for electricity, cable etc.  He would like the cemetery to be exempt from such regulations.  Jim also felt that we are implying lowered densities in the Hickey Creek area and this is not consistent with the claim that we would not change densities.

Lynda Kendrick – Thinks the water problem with wells should be addressed.  She also thinks the density issue in central Alva is confusing.

Jim English -  Does not think there needs to be a walk along the Caloosahatchee river.  He is also uncertain about the  rural village zoning category.  He is not certain what it means and would like to know more about it.

Gay Bennett – mentioned that the county is buying 171 acres south of Tuckahoe and east of Joel for conservation.

Roxanne Gausse – Concerned that there will be a lack of commercial along  80 and wondered how you determine what is adequate.  Carol Cunningham replied that commercial usually follows population and the problem is usually an over development of commercial rather than too little.  If commercial area is made small, there is more chance it will succeed.  If more is needed than more could be added later.   It is not a good idea to designate more area as commercial than will be needed.  

Lynn Fensterer -  Felt that the clustering and transfer of development rights program needs to be discussed more.  Some possible plot sizes are very small.  She is worried it might change character of Alva too much.  Most people come here because they want more space and privacy.

Rob emphasized that people will still be able to do 1 unit per acre or less dense if they want.  The clustering is encouraged for larger developments to increase natural open space.  

Bob Oliver – moved here for space.  He doesn’t think people will buy in a clustered development.  He also said that when govt buys property taxes go up.  He would like to think of different ways to preserve open space other than increased taxes.  

Carol Cunningham then distributed a memo that discussed the strategy and future for the plan.   Comments and changes to the plan can be made throughout the summer.  The absolute deadline for the plan to be submitted with no other changes is September.  The plan will then sit idle with the county until 2003.  The Lee Planning Agency will review the plan in spring of 2003.  It will not go to the Board of County commissioners until fall of 2003.

Carol recommended that the community meet with groups that have concerns about the plan and create focus groups to try to resolve issues.  Wayne Daltry and FGCU conflict resolution may be helpful.  She says the plan should be presented  in a loose-leaf format so we can add graphics as we go along.  Carol stated her contractual obligation with ALVA inc ends June 15 and she is planning to retire so will not be available to assist us with future plan issues.

Some attendees expressed concern with the plan’s suggestion of an oversight committee to review commercial or large developments. Richard Woodruff feels that setting clear standards for development in the plan lets everyone know where they stand at the start and does away with the subjectivity of a review boards.  Bob Oliver agreed.

Roxanne Gause felt that a forum or focus group of selected Alva citizens, Paul O’Connor or other Lee planning representative may help at this stage.

The meeting was adjourned at 9:20 pm .

Submitted by Sarah Gillim – acting secretary