BODminutes080802

Minutes: Board of Directors, A Living Vision of Alva, Inc.

August 8, 2002. Alva Museum

Present and signed in: Jack Vealry, Roxanne Gause, Martin Call, Pam Lewis, Lynn Fensterer, Lynda Kendrick, Maria C. Pagan, Rob Andrys, John Payne, Sarah Gillim.

Meeting opened at 7:10 p.m. by chair, Sarah Gillim. Minutes of previous board meeting approved.

Treasurer’s Report, Lynn Fensterer, attached to filed copy of minutes. Balance as of August 8: $4926.80.

She also reported that information on design standards for city of Sanibel may be found on the web: CI.SAN.FL.US

Flood control concerns regarding Orange River, Hickey Creek and Highway 80 will be corrected. She offered a news release which is filed.

Amendments to ALVA bylaws are now filed and approved by the state of Florida. Approval from IRS is pending.

Lynn Fensterer spoke her personal concern, which was agreed to by all present by consensus. She asserted that some of the large landowners or their representatives have exerted power and influence well beyond their due, especially when a majority of landowners’ properties in various areas have been excluded from the Alva Plan because of the objections of these few individuals.. These individuals often opposed the “plan” well before any drafts or policies in the plan had been released. They have tried to persuade landowners of smaller properties to oppose the plan by spreading rumors but have never expressed a concrete concern or objection to policies in the actual draft of the plan. On numerous occasions meetings have been set up to discuss any objections they may have to the plan. In many cases those who attended simply objected to being part of any planning process for the community. Those who oppose the process and/or the plan without offering any reason or specific objection should not be credited.

New Business: The new boundaries for the community plan were approved with one member in opposition. It was also agreed that Sarah Gillim will propose a cover letter to point out that the new boundaries are not the ideal boundaries for the Alva community but a compromise which was necessary to submit the plan to the county without undo controversy.

Further revisions to the plan were discussed and approved, based on the suggestions from the July Alva community meeting. These changes include adding the importance of oak trees on SR 80, removal of the four year evaluation regarding approval of commercial at median cuts, drainage issues and environmental concerns. Details will be published on the Alva website in the revised plan.

Rob Andrys proposed that additional car sales lots be prohibited in the area, that self-storage units be set-back and shielded by appropriate landscaping and not allowed to be used for commercial purposes, and that all new businesses be protected from sun and rain by eight foot extensions . The prohibition of auto sales lots was approved to be included in the Alva Plan. The remainder of the above concerns will be discussed and carefully evaluated in the Alva Rural Village Overlay, the next step in the process after the plan is submitted.

The board reviewed recommendations for the lands outside the community plan boundaries which are listed below. – see attached.

Lynn Kendrick-Pagan reported that as of October paramedics will travel with the Alva Fire Department on emergency calls. The board expressed gratitude for this development.

Sarah Gillim assigned the development of maps that show bike paths to Rob Andrys and Roxanne Gause.

A strong encouragement was made to all board members to continue to get signatures of residents on petitions in support of the Alva Plan. The goal is 500, if possible, prior to September 30, but they will be helpful and valuable whenever they can be added. Anita and Mike Dove were asked to help head up this concern with the possible help of Jean Colvin.

A letter of resignation as chair of the Fund Raising Committee was received from Lynn Kendrick-Pagan. It was accepted with regret and gratitude for her energetic involvement. However, she will continue on the board and as a member of the committee.

100 copies of the revised Alva Plan (as submitted to Lee County) will be printed and bound. Copies (not for distribution but to be read in place) will be placed in the local libraries, restaurants and other places where people gather.

The State of Florida is willing to meet our request that Hwy. 78 be approved as a scenic highway.

Lynda Kendrick-Pagan announced that tickets for the raffle of the Alva quilt will be for sale at $5 each. Also ball caps with the Alva oak tree logo will be offered.

The boundaries of the Alva Community Plan are delineated in fig ____. This boundary was chosen after considerable thought and public input. The boundary primarily encompasses where people live, work and play and includes our 2 major highways SR 80 and CR 78 and the Caloosahatchee River.

Because what happens outside the boundaries of the plan also affects the well being and future of those inside the boundaries, the Alva community plan makes the following recommendations and observations.

1) With the exception of the lands near Hickey Creek park which are designated in the urban land use category, the land use densities and allowances currently (2002) present in the Lee Plan adequately protect the rural lands outside the planning boundaries. The community recommends that such densities remain the same.

2) The community recommends that the county look at zoning and land use designations in the Hickey Creek Park area and adjust it appropriately to conform with land use elsewhere in the area.

3) Development that occurs in the rural lands outside our boundaries can impact our water supply and surface water flow. The community recommends that county and state agencies carefully evaluate how development outside the plan will affect our water quality and supply for both residential and agricultural needs. We also recommend that the effect of development on surface water flow be carefully evaluated.

4) Conservation purchases by the county, state or other agencies in the outlying areas are strongly supported.

5) The river, parks and public green-spaces and the proposed system of bike and pedestrian paths will provide recreational opportunities for those within and outside the Alva area. We recommend that as development occurs outside the planning area the impact on our roads and the safety of the pedestrian or cycling public be considered. Linkage of the Alva bike path system to those in neighboring communities is also desired.