Lee County's online Horizon 2035 "Town Hall" adds transportation element for public comment

This week the transportation element was added to the online "Town Hall" interactive website for public comment.  It's up to YOU to become part of this exciting interactive community conversation!

New Horizon 2035
A new vision of Lee County in 2035 - an economically and environmentally desirable place to live, work and visit - was crafted through an extensive community planning effort that included over 40 public workshops. Now, it’s time to revise Lee County’s growth management plans to bring that vision of a Livable Lee to reality. The most important changes to the Lee Plan are highlighted here. Will they get us to our vision? Here’s your chance for a final “thumbs up” – or a last-minute tweak of the elements as we present them over the next few months.

Walking, Riding and Rolling: Transportation Element

Oct 30 - Dec 27, 2012   INSTANT POLL

More Info:

Read the Livable Lee Vision Statement

Position Paper

Read the complete draft element

Evaluation and Appraisal Report (EAR)

WHAT IS THE TRANSPORTATION ELEMENT?

The transportation element describes the way we build the facilities where we walk, bike, ride the bus, drive, and fly. It encourages a safe and convenient transportation system to connect people to their destinations. Transportation decisions consider livability, community character and sustainability in addition to traffic management. 

WHY SHOULD YOU CARE?

We meet our daily needs using some form of transportation. Many people in Lee County depend on traveling by car. Lee County forecasts that there is a $2 billion shortfall if we continue to use highway projects as an attempt to build our way out of congestion. A balanced transportation system can happen only when walking, riding a bicycle, or riding a bus is just as safe and convenient as driving a car to meet daily needs. The transportation system affects the economy, the environment, housing, health, well-being, livability, walkability, and design of the community. Transportation facilities are also Lee County’s biggest source of air pollution. Limited resources present us with choices and a challenge to make the best use of what we have.

WHAT ARE THE CHANGES?

The transportation element identifies changes in policies that define how we prioritize and spend taxpayer money to shift from depending only on cars to a more balanced transportation system with more choices. It proposes changes in how we permit and regulate development, parking, and street design, all based on the surrounding area. The element includes motor vehicles, transit, walking, and bicycling with an emphasis on safety for all users. The element supports reducing pollution and energy use by changes in the way we travel and by use of new technologies.

Click here to participate.

Click here to read BikeWalkLee's overview comments on the transportation element.

Lee County's online Horizon 2035 "Town Hall" adds four more topics for public comment

• In an earlier blog post, we announced the new online "Town Hall" public forum launched by Lee County Administration, and the opportunity for public input to the Horizon 2035 Lee Plan amendments.  The County is adding elements for comment as they become available.  This week they posted four more for comment--character and form, historical preservation, housing, and intergovernmental coordination It's up to YOU to become part of this exciting interactive community conversation! Horizon 2035 "Town Hall": A new vision of Lee County in 2035 – an economically and environmentally desirable place to live, work and visit – was crafted from public suggestions made at 12 workshops. Now, it’s time to revise Lee County’s growth management plans to bring that vision of a Livable Lee to reality. The most important changes to the Lee Plan are highlighted here. Will they get us to our vision? Here’s your chance for a final “thumbs up” – or a last-minute tweak of the elements as we present them over the next few months.  Click here to sign-up to participate in this conversation. Designing the Future: Character and Form

• Saving the Past for the Future: Historic Preservation

• Gimme Shelter: Housing

• CooperativeLEE: Intergovernmental Coordination

Lee County's online Horizon 2035 "Town Hall" adds three more topics for public comment

In an earlier blog post, we announced the new online "Town Hall" public forum launched by Lee County Administration, and the opportunity for public input to the Horizon 2035 Lee Plan amendments.  The County is adding elements for comment as they become available.  Last week they posted three more for comment--economy, community safety; and conservation & coastal management. It's up to YOU to become part of this exciting interactive community conversation!

Horizon 2035 "Town Hall":

A new vision of Lee County in 2035 – an economically and environmentally desirable place to live, work and visit – was crafted from public suggestions made at 12 workshops. Now, it’s time to revise Lee County’s growth management plans to bring that vision of a Livable Lee to reality. The most important changes to the Lee Plan are highlighted here. Will they get us to our vision? Here’s your chance for a final “thumbs up” – or a last-minute tweak of the elements as we present them over the next few months. 

Click here to sign-up to participate in this conversation.

• Invest in Lee: Economy WHY SHOULD YOU CARE? If you care about jobs, you should care about this element. The recent economic downturn spotlights the importance of a strong local economy. It also draws attention to the county’s role in job creation and fiscal stability. The county supports policies to stimulate historically important job centers, such as tourism and construction. WHAT ARE THE CHANGES? The Economic Element now emphasizes economic diversification through business retention, expansion of existing business, and recruitment of targeted employers. In addition to supporting Lee’s traditional job base, this element also recognizes that more needs to be done to stimulate a diverse economy and to create more high-wage jobs, especially for the young. The economic strategy includes building partnerships and promoting innovation, fiscal responsibility and transparency in government.

• Live Strong & Long: Community Safety & Wellbeing WHY SHOULD YOU CARE? Because if you don’t have your health – you have nothing. This element is about keeping people safe and healthy in Lee County. As the county grows, greater demands are placed on hospitals, police, fire and EMS. Planning strategies should ensure that these demands are met today, tomorrow and in the future. A growing and aging population has an impact on the County’s preparedness for and response to natural disasters and public health emergencies. People living sedentary and unhealthy lifestyles create additional challenges to public health as well. WHAT ARE THE CHANGES? This new element also includes a new goal – Healthy Lifestyles. Objectives for this new goal address urban design, recreational opportunities, and alternative transportation. In addition, this element includes a new objective under the Environmental Hazards goal to address wildfire safety through fire safety education. This element includes ideas to promote healthier lifestyles through better urban design, increased recreational opportunities, and transportation options, including walking and bicycling.

• Surf & Turf: Conservation & Coastal Management WHY SHOULD YOU CARE? If you care about the natural environment, wildlife, clean water, the housing market or our tourism-based economy, you should care about the management of conservation and coastal areas. They provide groundwater recharge for clean water, protection from floods and storms, and habitat for our native wildlife. Environmental and coastal features are critical for the county’s economy and are important recreational, cultural and educational resources. They make Florida unique – bringing us tourists, families purchasing vacation or second homes, and entrepreneurs bringing their businesses to an attractive, clean and natural environment. WHAT ARE THE CHANGES? The Conservation and Coastal Management Element now clearly separates the environmental conservation and coastal management sections of the chapter. It addresses how coastal and conservation areas contribute to the sustainability of Lee County, and it emphasizes how environmental resources support our economic needs.

Lee County government unveils new online "Town Hall" public forum

In an exciting new development, Lee County took a giant step forward today in launching a new online public forum, using a "Town Hall" social media tool.  This tool (MindMixer) is being used successfully in communities around the country to engage the community in an online and interactive way.  As outlined to the Board of County Commissioners today, the first major use of this "Town Hall" tool will be to engage the community in providing opinions and ideas to help improve the New Horizon 2035 Lee Plan to make sure it brings the new vision of a Livable Lee to reality.    Please click this link to learn more and to sign-up today to begin participating in this online forum.

Kudos to the County Manager and her team, esp. the Community Development Department, for bringing the citizens of Lee County this innovative and valuable tool, and to the Board for its enthusiastic support of the approach.  A special thanks also goes to Ann Pierce (of BikeWalkLee) for successfully advocating for the use of this tool as a member of the LPA.  Now it's up to US, the residents of Lee County, to make the most of this opportunity...so sign-up now and become part of this exciting interactive community conversation!

Below is the announcement on the County's website today, along with highlights from the New Horizon 2035 "Town Hall" section. Join “Lee County Town Hall” Online Public Forum

Want to make a positive impact on the community from the comfort of your home? Then check out the new “Lee County Town Hall” virtual public forum at www.leecountytownhall.com. This interactive website invites residents to share opinions and ideas on proposed county projects.
While we still encourage face-to-face dialogue at traditional meetings, we realize that hectic schedules can get in the way. Explore Lee County Town Hall at your convenience. We’re kicking things off with a campaign seeking input about Lee County’s plan for growth through 2035, and a fun challenge about the iconic places in Lee County. Check back often to see what’s new. The registration process is free and easy to share your own ideas and support those you like. Lee County decision-makers will be listening.

Horizon 2035 "Town Hall":

A new vision of Lee County in 2035 – an economically and environmentally desirable place to live, work and visit – was crafted from public suggestions made at 12 workshops. Now, it’s time to revise Lee County’s growth management plans to bring that vision of a Livable Lee to reality. The most important changes to the Lee Plan are highlighted here. Will they get us to our vision? Here’s your chance for a final “thumbs up” – or a last-minute tweak of the elements as we present them over the next few months. 

Click here to sign-up to participate in this conversation.

• See Lee: The Vision

• Pay It Forward: Capital Improvements

• Live Outdoors: Parks, Recreation & Open Space

• Live Strong & Long: Community Safety & Wellbeing

• Surf & Turf: Conservation & Coastal Management Each element now includes links to the following background information: Read the Livable Lee Vision Statement Read the complete draft element Position Paper Evaluation & Appraisal Report (EAR) Note that these are the first 5 of the 15 elements of the Comp Plan, so stay tuned for postings of the other 10 elements after they've been presented to the LPA and the CSAC.