Smart Growth Design Competition Announced

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 27, 2010
for information contact:
Jason Utley, LEED AP Planner
(239) 338-2550 ext. 227

Smart Growth Design Competition Announced

“What should Smart Growth and transit-oriented development in Lee County look like?” That is the question in the “Creating Better Places” design competition announced today. “We are challenging local citizens and design professionals to rethink sprawling development patterns and help visualize better prototypes for our future,” said Tammy Hall, Chair of the Lee County Board of County Commissioners. Entry information is available on the Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council's Website and the deadline for entries is April 7, 2010.

The competition will compare various transit-oriented designs for a specific site in the City of Fort Myers near Terry Park with access to potential light rail service. The purpose is to solicit creative ideas and provide information about better alternatives for the physical form of our community.

Transit-oriented developments are typically defined as higher density, mixed-use developments within walking distance – up to a half-mile – of existing or future transit stations. Transit-oriented design is about creating attractive, walkable, sustainable communities with energy-efficient housing and transportation choices that reduce reliance on car trips and increase social interactions among residents.

Competitors will submit three items: 1) a generalized site plan showing streets, blocks, and buildings, 2) a simple illustration showing the arrangement of buildings, and 3) a short narrative that describes the most important attributes of this proposal’s response to the factors listed on the competition Website along with the submittal format requirements.

The competition is sponsored by Lee County in cooperation with the City of Fort Myers, Reconnecting Lee County, Florida Gulf Coast University’s Center for Public and Social Policy, and the Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council.