Minutes: A Living of Alva Inc. Community meeting, June 27, 7 p.m.

Alva Middle School

 

Present and signed in: Rob Andrys, Larry and Sharon Bauer, Susan Brookman, Fred Burson, Martin Call, James and Rose Conner, Michael Dove, Jim and Irby English, Lynn Fensterer, Sarah Gillim, Ed Jacobs, Carol Howard, Steve and Sue Kindelan, David Lee, Nancy Lee, Jack and Kim Liddell, Bob Oliver, Maria Pagan, John and Jensene Payne, Michael Pcolar, David and Sheila Quinn, David and Katy McKen Robson, Susan and Don Rockwell, Andreia Siemienski, Gleen Simmons, Ila Stapleton, Jenni and Rosie Taylor, David Turkel, Richard and Gwen Woodruff, Richard Spencer, Toby Tiner, Ray Johns, David Johnson, Eric Elais, John Albion, Jennie TRoutner, Fred Kobie, Tanya Johnston

 

Roxanne Gause designed and anchored a panel of individuals  from various perspectives, who reviewed and responded to the draft of the Alva Plan.  Panelists were: Martin Call (member of the Alva Inc. Board of Directors and Alva resident), Katherine English (attorney and land owner in Alva area), George Austin (Alva land owner who led the work on changes in the Hy. 80 project), Richard Woodruff (Alva resident, employed by Wilson Miller, Inc., former director of planning for Naples), Paul O’Conner (Director of Planning for Lee County), Wayne Daltry (Director of Smart Growth Program for Lee County).  Summaries of each of their presentations are linked here.

 

Ms Gause opened the meeting by summarizing the work of A Living Vision of Alva, Inc. since its inception fifteen months ago.  She pointed out that significant changes in the planning for SR 80 have been accomplished through the work of the group, funds have been raised for the Alva Fire Department, Alva Elementary School - these are among some of Alva Inc. accomplishments.  She also stated that some mistakes have been made, allowing misunderstandings to be voiced through the community.  She gave each panel member five minutes to make his/her presentation.  Following these presentations questions for the panel were taken from the floor which were limited to three minutes each.

 

Martin Call: Pointed out that growth will occur in the Alva area and it is imperative for guidelines to be established.  He reiterated that there are no plans either to push or deter growth, the objective is to maintain the community as growth comes. Development will happen as property owners decide to develop.  ALVA inc will not be either causing or stopping development.  The plan is  being revised as community comment is received.  Some suggestions in the draft of the Alva Plan have already been eliminated such as a recommendation for the transfer of development rights section.  He further pointed out that all of the members of Alva Inc. including the board of directors are volunteers and everyone’s participation is needed and valued.

 

George Austin: First comments were an update of the plans for the expansion of SR 80.  Design and work contracts have been awarded by the state; the contractor has 800 days to complete the project.  The Wayside Park has been deeded back to Lee County making possible the linking of Packinghouse Road to Broadway.  Unfortunately the traffic light at Broadway and SR 80 has not yet been authorized, and more effort will be needed to convince the state Department of Transportation its necessity.  He stated that growth will occur and commercial development will follow.  Not enough land is so far set aside for the needed commercial development.  Economic incentives will be needed so that commercial development will follow community guidelines.  He hopes that we can discourage strip development on SR 80.  He emphasized that the community not leave the future to chance, urging that Alva ensure its values as economic growth comes about.

 

Richard Woodruff: stated that he works for Wilson Miller Planning firm and that he has been hired by the large property owners in Alva to protect their interests.  He represents land owners who do not wish to be included in the Alva plan and offered these arguments based on the large land owners point of view.  He argued that all property in the Alva area is covered in the LeePlan and no further work is necessary.  Pointing out that the original proposed boundary for the Alva plan includes 34,000 acres, he urged that the plan should be limited to the Alva village core.  He quoted from a petition signed by approximately 100 property owners  who want to be excluded from the plan.  He further argued that this area will remain primarily rural as it already has the largest low density requirements of any part of Lee County and that cannot be changed without public input.  He stated that many of the large land owners are long time owners, He stated that the plan is good for the immediate urban core of Alva, but not needed for the remainder of the Alva area.

 

Katherine English: She pointed out that she became an attorney to protect her family’s interest in their extensive farm land in the Alva area.  She pointed out that she and her family think good growth management would be helpful, it should be limited to the “historic” Alva area. 

 

Paul O’Conner: He reviewed the history of community plans, the first of which was offered by the planning staff in the mid-1980's in response to developers and property owner requests to change items in the comp plan. Later more grass roots community efforts began including the Buckingham and Pine Island plans, primarily for preservation purposes and also to save their rural character.  Other locally based plans include the Bonita Springs and the Ft. Myers Beach plans.  More grass roots planning is needed and encouraged.  Regarding the area of the draft Alva Plan he stated that for Alva to maintain its rural village center it needs to maintain the rural area around or it will erode and not continue to be a viable rural village.

 

Wayne Daltry: Alva plan has two dimensions, a center community plan which is comprehensive and supported, and a wider area which is controversial.  Generally government seeks to prevent harm.  But it is important to provide incentives to help support the wider area plan.  County needs to work with Alva Inc,  to provide and identify the incentives that could be offered.  The challenge is to gain wide participation so that all participants see things from the Alva Inc. point of view.  Having several smaller plans within a larger plan is reasonable.

 

John Wade Payne, secretary