Commentary by Jim Tucker

Kudos to the Community Planning Panel for a job well done under trying circumstances. Every member of the panel, and it's seven sub-committees, endured the long, tedious meetings necessary when so many voices are heard. Florida's Sunshine laws are among the strictest in the nation making it difficult for members to even clarify a point outside an open meeting.

That's important for many reasons. The most important is that all the work is visible. No committee effort has totally pleased everyone. Ever. This committee listened to everyone in packed meetings in the beginning and 

Trying to save a few squares of 50-year-old lumber, the DeShong-Bowen building under re-construction.

Among the articles and sub-paragraphs that saw little change throughout the long, grinding process a couple of things stood out because Lee County officials didn't want to give up territory. The most important gain made by the panel was the local historic preservation board. One glaring decision by the Lee County folks, that proves the need for local input, is the requirement to "save" the Dishong-Bowen House. Most photographs of the reconstruction efforts don't show it but right next to that papier-mache skeleton is a big, blue dumpster. That's where it all should have gone.

It's a wonderful thing to save old structures for future use. I have been fascinated over the years by the conversion of derelict properties to useful, even gorgeous, new purpose. A loft apartment in a former factory, warehouse or printing plant might be just the ticket. A shopping mall in an abandoned brick derelict adds to the tax rolls and "gentrifies" its neighborhood. Barns and grist mills can be great homes waiting to happen. But hundreds of thousands of dollars to restore a nondescript cube of dryrot and jalousie windows is stretching the point.

That Lee County officialdom is "out of touch" with Boca Grande was brilliantly demonstrated at the June 1 meeting. A Lee County commissioner's remark supporting efforts to add the FP&L property to the park system because he wanted to save "all the critters" there made it clear he hadn’t recently seen the place. Nothing lives there but weeds and the ubiquitous iguana.

I fervently hope the FP&L property will be added to the existing park land. There's enough structure on the island already and green space is far more important than asphalt. The Boca Banner supports any rational effort to accomplish the goal of having the land for the purpose of public use. It's obvious that most of the island is already behind that effort. No one on the planning committee hoped otherwise.

The planning panel did attempt an "end around" play by placing language in the proposal that would, if adopted, have given some lawyer at some future date a place to stand. With that wording any future application for building permits could have been attacked as non-conforming use. Unfortunately two things apply: zoning can be changed anytime by making an appeal that resonates with the zoning board. (Usually that means the "highest and best" use or simply: more tax revenue.) No language in the proposal could have guaranteed anything. To protest that it would is specious.

The other thing: FP&L lawyers saw this "end around" play coming as soon as the panel broke huddle. They sniffed it out and stuffed it for no gain.

All the sniping accomplished was to add to the difficulty of doing an honest day's work. The panel succeeded anyway.

"An Evening Of Classics," featuring soprano Tara Jano, Fri., June 17th----7:00pm----$15.00 Join us for an exceptional performance by critically acclaimed Tara Jano. Her performance will include pieces by Puccini, Verdi, spirituals and many of your favorite Broadway tunes.

"Barbara Noel Show," presented by Jomar Entertainment, Sat., June 18th---- 7:00pm---- $6.00 Barbara describes her show as a "mixed bag" of entertainment. She does everything from singing and acting to impressions of Edith Bunker, Lilly Tomlin’s Ernestine , and the Witch from the Wizard of Oz. Music from her show includes songs from Streisand and Darrin as well as Broadway and Big Band.

"Lipi and Rosie’s Unlimited Circus," presented as a part of the Summer Kids & Families Series Wednesday, June 22nd----11:00 am----$4.00 for children and $5.00 for adults Lipi the Juggler and the Celebrated Canine Rosie have skills galore that will astound and amaze children of all ages.