Commissioners adopt privately initiated amendment to Lee Plan Goal 13

The Lee County Board of County Commissioners on June 17 voted to adopt a privately initiated text amendment to Goal 13 of the Lee Plan, county planners said. Kate Burgess, a principal planner with the county planning section, said the amendment reconciles a disparity between Lee Plan chapter 13 requirements and a zoning designation set by a settlement agreement.

Burgess told the board the Local Planning Agency recommended transmittal and adoption, the county previously transmitted the amendment to state reviewing agencies and received no objections, and Florida Fish and Wildlife provided a comment letter offering guidance on land-clearing best practices and additional species considerations but raised no formal objection.

Burgess said any items not addressed in the settlement agreement would be handled in a subsequent rezoning. A commissioner moved approval and another seconded. A person identified in the hearing as an applicant representative said, "We can talk if you need us to. We agree with what she said." The board approved the motion with no objection.

The record shows no public opposition at the hearing; staff recommended adoption consistent with the Lee Plan.