Greater Pine Island Civic Association again discusses incorporation possibilities, zoning issues, water quality
Greater Pine Island Civic Association President Helen Fox opened the August GPICA meeting by sharing a recent visit from islanders to local representatives and encouraging continuing support from all islanders via letters and email.
“Your activism really does make a difference,” Fox said.
Fox explained that the GPICA has researched the cost and process of incorporating. A PowerPoint presentation on incorporation can be found at GPICA.org. Since the last effort to incorporate stalled, she said, this was also examined by the current board of directors, who are moving forward with a certain amount of trepidation.
In regard to the voluntary annexation of the land at Veterans Parkway and Pine Island Road, the GPICA is keeping track of old development orders, said Fox, that may not be subject to current county rules.
“It’s been over 20 years without actually developing anything on those properties, but they could … we didn’t want to be surprised, so we’re researching all of those old development orders and we’re also keeping track of the new orders, the request for zoning changes, the request for variances and other ways to bend the rules of development, which is done on a regular basis,” Fox said.
In order to do this, Fox said, board members are actively attending meetings that include plans to develop on, as well as, just off the island, as they have the potential to affect islanders. One of these, she said, is the proposed new bike path, which has brought about the request for road repair and the question of traffic, especially during the islands’ busy season.
“We have mentioned a number of times, to Commissioner Ruane, that an extension of the righthand lane at the corner of Pine Island Road and Veterans would ease traffic somewhat, by allowing, especially the trucks, not to be rolling off the edges of the road and crumbling the roadway and be dangerous to other cars. Let’s have a regular long righthand turn lane there,” Fox said.
Fox talked about the renewed interest in incorporation among islanders. Approximately 50 people of the 70 in attendance, at the June meeting, raised their hands, indicating interest in the pursuit of the incorporation of Pine Island.
“We’re all alarmed by the latest annexations by Cape Coral, the proposed development on Burnt Store — all of that Burnt Store new stuff that’s coming up as well as a development on voluntarily annexed property on the corner of Veterans and Pine Island Road. We’ve all had concerns that the county may be more interested in high-density development than they are in preservation of the environment — of improvement of our way of life that we enjoy here on Pine Island,” Fox said.
Incorporation, however, is a costly, lengthy process, powered by the will of the people,Fox reminded members. What’s needed, she explained, would be a new feasibility study, due to the changing financial state of both the country and region.
“We need to find new consultants if we’re going to go ahead with this, to do a new feasibility study and to look at the proposed charter for the new town and to say, what parts of Greater Pine Island do we want to incorporate? And write that into the charter and make the charter amenable to what people really want,” Fox said
Gaining the cooperation of legislators is also fundamental, she stressed, adding that this is not always easy to do. Islanders, she said, will have to prove there’s enough interest in incorporation before getting the vote placed on the ballot. All of this should not be done, if islanders, who are voters, will ultimately not cast a vote for incorporation. Since this has happened in other communities, Fox said there was a special board meeting held at the end of July to discuss this. If it’s decided a feasibility study is the best course of action, Fox said the GPICA would reach out to islanders.
Board member Deb Swisher-Hicks reported development projects, which must be presented before a hearing examiner, have meetings coming up, including a request for proposed changes, including increased building height, contrary to the Pine Island Plan, at the shopping center at Calusa Cay, on Aug. 31, and a request for the expansion of the former Chamber of Commerce building on Oct. 13.
GPICA Vice President Nadine Slimak reminded members that if they wish to speak to the County Commissioners regarding approval or disapproval of any of these projects, they must first speak at the Hearing Examiner’s meeting.
Board member Cindy Bear gave a presentation on the water quality on Pine Island along with results from recent water testing on fecal coliform done by Calusa Waterkeeper. Pine Island, she said, is equipped, in part by means of sewer systems and in part, by septic systems.
“Other places on the island, when you flush, it might go out the pipes into a small package treatment plant-sort of a mini sewage treatment plant, in other places on our island actually have some sewer systems,” Bear said.
Ideally, the waste will get broken down into cleaner, less complex organisms, she explained, however, if the system breaks down, such as having a leak, this fails to happen correctly. Emptying a septic tank twice a year is optimal, she said.
To learn more regarding the hearing process visit: https://www.leegov.com/ hearingexaminer. Hearings typically held at 1500 Monroe St., Room 218, Fort Myers, FL, 33901
To reach PAULETTE LeBLANC, please email pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com