Connect Magazine November/December | Page 17

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