Boca Grande Planning Panel

Letter to Lee County Board of
Commissioners, June 2

On behalf of Boca Grande Community Planning Association, Inc. and the Boca Grande Community Planning Panel, I wish to express our sincere appreciation for your careful attention to our proposed Lee Plan amendment and the support you gave us yesterday at the Transmittal Hearing.

We are particularly grateful for your transmitting Policy 6.1.1 regarding the formation of a Boca Grande Historic Preservation Board at our request and for your transmitting Policy 3.2.3 regarding the preservation, protection and enhancement of the tarpon and game fishing population of Charlotte Harbor and the near shore waters of the Gulf of Mexico on your own initiative. Boca Grande and fishing go hand in hand

so I am sure the members of the Boca Grande Fishing Guides Association will be thrilled to learn of your support.

As to the Boca Grande Historic Preservation Board, I can assure you that we will work with you in establishing a Board that meets all the required qualifications. We understand Commissioner Janes' point about taking the lead from the present Board and acting accordingly. There is no special motivation here other than greater local involvement. The members of the Boca Grande community will look forward to having a greater participation in the preservation of our unique village which is the center of substantially all civic, cultural and economic activity on the Island.

The debate between Commissioners (John) Albion and (Ray) Judah in regard to Policies 3.1.8 and 3.1.9 relating to the preservation and protection of marine habitat and other environmental

values intrinsic to Charlotte Harbor was spirited to say the least. But I viewed the discussion as positive insofar as our community plan is concerned. Thank you for transmitting our plan to the Department of Community Affairs for it's review.

Ted Hoopes, president

Boca Grande Community Planning Association, Inc.

On June 1, the Boca Grande Community Plan was presented to Lee County Commissioners. After much discussion the Commissioners decided to transmit the Plan after reinserting the language regarding the creation of a Boca Grande Historic Preservation Board.

This decision came after Lee County staff had recommended deletion of the language and the Local Planning Agency had supported staff’s recommendation by transmitting the Plan to the Commissioners with a recommendation that the language regarding the creation of a Boca Grande Historic Preservation Board be deleted. The Commissioners made their decision to reinsert the language following well prepared arguments from Planning Panel members and their consultants from Morris-Depew Associates.

The Plan will now be transmitted to Department of Community Affairs for comment and then return to the Lee County Commissioners for adoption. It is anticipated that this process could take approximately six months.

Congratulations to the Planning Panel and all the community volunteers that worked so hard to complete this important effort.

Hurricane Season

Unfortunately, the 2005 hurricane season is now upon us. As you have all heard it is anticipated to be a busy storm season. In the event that a hurricane or tropical storm is predicted to strike Boca Grande, the GICIA will keep you abreast of important information regarding evacuations, updates from Boca Grande’s Emergency Management Team and other information as deemed necessary or of interest.

Iguana Removal

Lee County Animal Services is continuing to coordinate efforts with Dr. Jerry Jackson of

Florida Gulf Coast University to study the Mexican Spiny Tail Iguana population of Gasparilla Island. This study is necessary to determine a feasible and humane method of eradication of this invasive exotic species that now considers Gasparilla Island home.

If you would like to give permission to Lee County Animal Services and Dr. Jackson and his crew to enter your property to capture iguanas, please email at gicia@ewol.com. We have already received approximately 50 emails from property owners who are interested in Dr. Jackson and crew entering their property to capture pesky iguanas. Thank you for your interest and assistance.

For those of you in Charlotte County, never fear, Dr. Jackson firmly believes that successful eradication MUST be an island-wide effort. We have brought Charlotte County Commissioner Tom Moore into the communication loop and feel certain that Charlotte County Officials and staff will assist in this important effort once an effective method of removal is discovered.

Be sure to watch for a featured article by Dr. Jackson on the Gasparilla Island Iguanas in the Summer GICIA Newsletter, which will be out in early July.

If you have any questions or would like to know more about the GICIA, please contact Misty Nabers, executive director or Sarah Watkins, development director at 941-964-2667.