TAKING ACTION IN NORTH FORT MYERS
MEANS A BRIGHT FUTURE FOR
LEE COUNTY
BY BRAIN HAMMAN,
LEE COUNTY COMMISSIONER, DISTRICT 4
REALTOR ® Branded
Plastic to-go cup
$9.75
The time for change in North Fort Myers is now, which is why I pushed for (and my
fellow commissioners unanimously approved) a $2 million, first-of-its kind program,
aimed at jump-starting redevelopment. The effort combines a revitalization
incentive package (offering performance-based grants & incentives to attract
private developers) with the county’s new Mixed Use Overlay regulations, which
will help streamline the development process.
Take a drive down either of the 41s in
North Fort Myers and you’ll have a hard
time believing that Lee County is in the
middle of a strong recovery from “The Great
Recession.” Shopping plazas and storefronts
that were once occupied by popular name
brands are sitting empty. Every few months a
new restaurant will open, only to close a few
months later.
County Commissioners wanted to know why this historic community – originally
homesteaded by John Powell, one of our first county commissioners – is still
struggling while the rest of Lee County comes back to life. To answer that question,
we commissioned a market-based assessment of North Fort Myers in 2016.
REALTOR Branded
Stainless Steel to-go cup
®
$9.65
The results confirmed much of what our longtime residents and businesses have
believed for years: North Fort Myers, specifically the area between Pondella Road
and the riverfront, has become a pass-thru and not a destination. The challenges
are many, according to the study. It calls out the high number of retail vacancies,
limited East-West travel connections, the poor level of building maintenance, and
the fact that the riverfront area has no sense of place or identity.
The new incentive program, approved in next year’s budget, was developed based
on the recommendations from the market assessment. Through this initiative, I
am confident that North Fort Myers will become an enticing location for new
development. The goal is to level the playing field between North Fort Myers and
other parts of the county that have raw, undeveloped land by allowing for faster
permitting and resolving environmental burdens.
In the coming months, commissioners will roll out performance-based program
guidelines, as well as the eligibility requirements, boundaries, and more specific
incentives.
REALTOR ® Branded
Key Chain
$3.25
The potential is there to create a beautiful community that will provide job
opportunities for our future generations. Community redevelopment is not a
traditional role of the county, but we can work to create the right environment for
economic improvements. As Lee County grows, it will be important to direct our
growth to areas that can be filled in, instead of sprawling out towards our borders.
Making smart investments now to strengthen our existing communities and get
people working closer to home will ensure that we can handle our future growth.
RPCRA.ORG | NOV/DEC 2017
17