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Forum Notes

April 21, 2010

Pine Island Public Library

Bokeelia

Future
Community Vision

Quality of Life
- Keep green
- Less dependence on tourism
- Limit growth to sustainable levels
- Control character of development
Community Character
- Economic Development
  - Promote economic engines
    - Industry
    - High-tech
    - Manufacturing
    - Medical
    - Education
  - Maintain economic character of each community
  - Increase light industry for tax base
- Cultural/Social Development and Resources
  - Maintain each community’s character
  - Maintain Pine Island’s rural character
  - Diverse population
  - Extraordinary history
  - County should recognize uniqueness of local communities
- Environmental
  - Preserve habitats for tourism
- Land/Community Development
  - Vacant properties harm community character
  - County is overbuilt, both commercially and residentially
Community Features
- Features:
  - Blueways
  - Fishing
  - Bike trails
  - Music venues
- Preserve:
  - Recharge areas and water quality
  - Wildlife
  - Density limits
  - Waterfront character (Pine Island)
- Protect historic areas as tourism destinations
- Restrict density
- No second bridge to Pine Island
- Limit agricultural exemptions by establishing a 20 year cap
Lifestyles

Development Pattern/Style
- Pine Island already has a well-developed plan
- Maintain agricultural and maritime heritage on Pine Island
- Less automobile dependence
- Clustering
- Plan should define development parameters
- Preserve existing scale for new residential and commercial development
- Confine commercial development to 4-way stop area
Prominent features
- Too many strip malls
- Housing should target all economic levels
- Protect traditional land uses
Design characteristics
- Poured concrete homes
- Placement and appearance of wind and solar power
- Require more landscaping
- Require pervious paving
- Highway landscaping
Development Practices
- Enforce light ordinance
- Fill empty commercial before building more
- Recycle empty commercial buildings
- Require solar panels
Urban form / Rural Character
- No high rises in rural areas
- Create village atmosphere
- Maintain rural character
- Promote infill where it exists
- Build on historic downtowns

Parks and public spaces
- Pine Island is rich in recreation facilities (no beaches)
- Keep passive recreation separate from active parks
- Naming of parks should have public input
- More waterfront parks with parking and public access and ramps
- Great library system
Conservation areas
- Keep Conservation 20/20
- Need more conservation/buffer areas (eg, 20/20)
- Calusa Land Trust unique
- Tropical Point could be enhanced
Open space areas
- Venues for big events needed (Pine Island)
- Need common areas/meeting areas (Pine Island)
- Need community center (Pine Island)
- Need Festival grounds (Pine Island)
- Turn Captain Cons Restaurant Island Marina into county park
- Pine Island needs open spaces
Access and location
- County properties should be somewhat accessible
- Protect water access
- More launch areas for non-powered boats

Roadways
- Traffic count should be announced regularly
- Feasibility of additional bridge (Pine Island)
- Schedule for widening Burnt Store Rd
- Plan communities where cars aren’t required
- Additional North/South road on Pine Island
- Reconsider huge overpasses/flyovers – get ride of them
- More paved roads
- Roadway landscaping like Vet’s Parkway in Cape Coral
- Restrict billboards
Multimodal
- Hurricane proof harbor
- Water taxis
Sidewalks/trails
- Wider paths
- Need sidewalks in densely populated areas
- Consider needs of aging population
Bikeways
- Bike paths on side streets on Pine Island
Transit
- Buses
  - should be natural gas or electric
  - Smaller and more frequent
  - Own separate ROW
- Bus parking areas
- Reevaluation of LeeTran routes and frequency to and from Pine Island
- Pine Island Trolley
- Be careful about mass transit: nobody uses it in Miami

Utilities
- Natural gas if possible
- Underground utilities
- Eliminate defective septic systems
- Water company a plus
Schools
- Neighborhood schools
- Schools for medical profession
- Satisfied with school system
Government services
- Expand health services
- Government agencies should interact with community
Land development services
- No scheduling of hearings about development and zoning when large percent of land owners are absent
- Local community involvement in issuance of development orders, not just zoning
- Officials should be more familiar with area
- Encourage growth of universities
- Adopt onsite water management program including runoff
- Brick pavements better for aquifer
- Porous surfaces wherever possible
Emergency services

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