It’s time to shield beach lights for turtle season
Sea turtles have already begun nesting on Lee County beaches. During nesting season, May 1 to October 31, hatchlings emerge from the sand and, like adult turtles, use the seaward horizon as their guiding light to return to the sea.
They may be lured away from the water by artificial light visible from the beach. To prevent this, beachfront property 
owners and visitors should observe these tips from 9 p.m. to 8 a.m.:
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Shield sources of light visible from the beach
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Use 25-watt yellow bug lights or amber-colored LED lights
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Close blinds or curtains after dark
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Remove beach furniture and equipment at night
For details, go to www.leegov.com/dcd/SeaTurtles.
Proposed update for parking regulations
Lee County is conducting a comprehensive review of parking requirements. In general, the update would result in fewer required paved parking spaces for new commercial and industrial development. The new codes would also be streamlined and more user-friendly.
This is the first comprehensive review of parking regulations since 1986. It coincides with the Comprehensive Plan update.
A summary of proposed changes was presented to Lee County Commissioners during their May Management and Planning Meeting. Proposed amendments to the Land Development Code will be presented to the County’s advisory committees before being presented to Commissioners for public hearing.
For a summary of proposed changes and copies of information presented to Commissioners, go to www.leegov.com/dcd/parking.
Transmittal hearing set for Lee Plan
Lee County Commissioners will consider transmitting regular amendments to the Lee Plan for state approval during a hearing Monday, June 18 at 9:30 a.m. in Commission Chambers, 2120 Main St., Fort Myers.
The amendments are part of the regular 2011/2012 cycle and include one case, CPA2011-00018, Corkscrew Woods. For details, go to www.leegov.com/dcd/PlanAmendments.
Lee Plan updates are now available online
The Lee Plan codification as amended through March 2012 is now available at www.leegov.com/dcd/leeplan. This codification is the result of several amendments:
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DR/GR Second Partial Final Order, effective 10/2011
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2010/2011 Regular Amendment Cycle, effective 11/2011
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Pine Tarr, LLC (CPA2010-00006), effective 01/2012
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DR/GR Final Order, effective 03/2012
You have the option of downloading only the newest replacement pages and maps to update the current Lee Plan at no cost. Please note that we have inserted replacement pages into the complete copies of the Lee Plan to avoid the expense of recopying the entire document. Therefore, footers will show various dates ranging from August 2007 to March 2012.
Also at no cost, you have the option of printing the entire updated document.
If you prefer a complete print version with replacement pages already inserted, the cost is $35 at the cashier station in the permitting lobby of the Community Development/Public Works Center, 1500 Monroe Street, Fort Myers. For additional information or to order multiple copies, please contact Karen Hutcherson, khutcherson@leegov.com or (239) 533-8543.
Commissioners to hold LDC hearings
Public hearings to consider an amendment to the Land Development Code for the Matlacha residential overlay will be held by Commissioners on Tuesday, May 22 at 5 p.m. and on Tuesday, June 12 at 9:30 a.m. in Commission Chambers 2120 Main St., Fort Myers.
For details, go to www.leegov.com/dcd/LDCAmendments.
The online version of the LDC is now updated through Ord. 12-07. Access the Code at www.leegov.com/gov/dept/dcd/zoning/Pages/LDC.aspx.
FEMA flood map revisions proposed
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has approved revisions to these Flood Insurance Rate Map (FIRM) panels in unincorporated Lee County:
- 419F – Revisions to A and X Zone boundaries and decreased BFEs for the Gulf of Mexico in the area of Gladiolus Drive and Heritage Farms Road; LOMR Case 12-04-0044P.
- 530F – Revisions to A and V Zone boundaries and increased and decreased BFEs for the Gulf of Mexico (San Carlos Bay) in the area of Cactus Point and Vacation lanes, St. James City; LOMR Case 12-04-0347P.
- 581F,583F, 584F, and 592F – Revisions to the regulatory floodway boundary and decreased BFEs for the South Branch, Estero River near Estero Parkway, east of I-75 and north of Germain Arena; LOMR Case 11-04-5887P.
For details about FEMA Letters of Map Revision in unincorporated Lee County since new flood insurance rate maps were updated by FEMA in August 2008, go to www.leegov.com/dcd/floodways.
Three staffers nominated for new award
Community Development employees Allyson Hall and Patti Lyles, permit representatives, and Tony Palermo, Zoning Division senior planner, were nominated for the county’s first “Together We Mean Community” award program.
The award was established to recognize outstanding “community friendly” service by Lee County employees. The award was won by Sandy Heinkel, a LeeWay account clerk, who found and returned $40 lost by a customer. For details, go to www.leegov.com/twmc/Pages/default.aspx.
Offices closed for Memorial Day
Lee County offices will be closed, Monday, May 28 in observance of Memorial Day. This includes the Department of Community Development offices at 1500 Monroe St. and 1825 Hendry St. in Fort Myers.
Online applications updated to Ord. 12-01
Online zoning and development review applications have been updated to include revisions adopted through Ordinance 12-01. Please note that we are also in the process of updating the checklists. Applications can be downloaded at www.leegov.com/dcd/applications.
Refer questions to Karen Hutcherson, KHutcherson@leegov.com, (239) 533-8543.
April 2012 permit report
During April, contractors pulled 39 permits to build single-family houses collectively valued at nearly $8.6 million in unincorporated Lee County. That compares to 34 permits issued in March and 30 issued in April 2011.
Two multi-family units were permitted in April compared to none in March and two in April 2011.
Eleven new commercial permits were valued at $352,000, compared to $3 million in March and $518,000 in April 2011.
During April, Lee County Community Development issued 2,818 permits of all kinds and issued 10,813 for the year to date.
For additional permit reports, go to www.leegov.com/dcd/Reports.
May, June LPA meetings rescheduled
The Local Planning Agency will meet Thursday, May 31 and Thursday, June 28th at 8:30 a.m. in Commission Chambers 2120 Main St., Fort Myers.
The meetings, which are normally held the last Monday of the month, were rescheduled to accommodate holiday and other conflicts.
Upcoming meetings and public hearings
Board of County Commissioners – Public hearing on proposed LDC amendments, Tuesday, May 22 at 5 p.m. in Commission Chambers 2120 Main St., Fort Myers.
Local Planning Agency – Thursday, May 31, 8:30 a.m., Commission Chambers, 2120 Main St., Fort Myers
For a detailed calendar, go to www.leegov.com/dcd/calendar.
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