Look closer at Lee county’s commitment to affordable housing

In his op-ed on April 24, an govt with SWFL, Inc. (the renamed Bonita Springs Chamber of Commerce) blames “a small but vocal group of group members“ who “shout down” any proposed new development. If only. Improvement in Lee County has been shifting forward with unbridled speed inspired by our County Commissioners, developers select to develop new, significant-conclusion gated communities, totally unaffordable to individuals earning decreased incomes. And who can blame them? With discounted influence charges and low-priced land in formerly safeguarded parts, they can cost top quality costs. Now the author is blaming the victims of this rampant creating: Lee residents upset with the prospect of even extra visitors and involved about our overcrowded educational institutions and the bulldozing of precious mangroves.

Or possibly he is referring to Women For a Better Lee? We are happy of our loud voice in this neighborhood and welcome any and all recruits upset about what is happening (www.womenforabetterlee.com). Let’s be clear, WFBL is for accountable improvement that has lower effect on ecosystems, water high quality and endangered animals electricity-successful housing priced to attract people and families at all profits concentrations and advancement that pays for the roadways, faculties and parks desired by new inhabitants, rather than having these charges foisted on taxpayers as the end result of the present low impression fees assessed builders.

As to the availability of inexpensive housing, for years our condition has raided the affordable housing trust fund to fork out for other jobs and our county has expended number of money to enable the scenario.

As a substitute of blaming loud inhabitants, the writer need to glimpse at these two examples of the County’s ‘commitment’ to cost-effective housing:

Not too long ago, County Commissioners acknowledged $1.26 million from the owner of an Estero apartment elaborate who had been essential to offer 63 very affordable housing models as component of getting permitted to develop. The rationale this owner paid the funds? He bought the residence with out the economical housing models (for $90 million) and experienced to compensate the County for the reduction of these flats. The place did the dollars go? It went into an reasonably priced housing fund to be employed (eventually) to finance the creating (probably) of an inexpensive housing complicated in Cape Coral in which a spade of grime hasn’t even been turned. And what of the 63 renters now in the Estero reasonably priced housing residences? Who knows.

Tale continues

Extra: Estero growth will assist pay back to start Cape Coral inexpensive housing complicated

Of class, if there is so a great deal issue, why has not the County’s Affordable Housing Advisory Committee convened in six months? The commissioner member of that committee, Ray Sandelli, fulfilled with a Who’s Who of large builders (including the SWFL, Inc. creator) last October on “workforce housing” nonetheless what has resulted? An op-ed blaming us citizen-victims when it is the business group and small-sighted County Commissioners who have induced this in the first place.

There need to be a better way. 1 idea: fairly than possessing a process that discourages citizen input in the zoning and land use course of action, the County and business neighborhood ought to be keeping obtainable community hearings and city halls where there is two-way dialogue instead of informational PR sessions that announce to inhabitants what is coming to their neighborhoods. Or much better but, what about raising effects costs so that we are assured that public facilities are enough to provide all the new people coming in?

As rents in Lee County continue on to climb, the business group is finally waking up to what it has wrought— an financial state that simply cannot dwelling the very workforce on which it is crafted. This is absolutely a circumstance of leaving the door open and complaining that the canine has operate absent.

Fort Myers resident Charlotte Newton wrote this guest view column on behalf of Women for a far better Lee.

This post at first appeared on Fort Myers Information-Push: cost-effective housing in lee county requirements a lot more scrutiny with conclusion makers