Agenda - Planning Commission - 11/05/2009

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. ~ -'~"~':~~~:-=~d:'-' iV ClEF tJF tfil"fA7{"tJ Lee County's evacuation routes are challenged by several islands and bridges. Even the City of Cape Coral, which is not an island and is the second largest incorporated .area in Florida (large by square miles), makes heavy use offour bridges over the Caloosahatchee River to access 1-75. the first lin!;'! of defense against coastal flooding, storm surge, and drought. The county had a 2007 population of 615,741, all of which is affected by ~urricanes, tropical coastal storms, and tropical cyclone (wind) events. The Lee County visicln. projects a population increase to 979,000 permanent residents by 2030; with an additional 18 per- cent increase in seasonal residents. By that time, the urban area will be essentially built out, with the exception of one municipality and one large subdivision. Lee County has consistently integrated its comprehensive plan (called the Lee Plan) and its hazard mitigation plan, the Unified Local Mitigation Strategy. Both contain the county's Future Land Use Map, and their goals and ob- jectives are similar. Examples of goals and objectives aimed at safe growth in the comprehensive plan include: . To protect life a.nd property in coastal high- hazard areas, new d~veropment on barrier islands will be limited to densities that meet 70 required evacuation standards; new develop- ment requiring seawalls for protection from coastal erosion will not be permitted; and allowable densities for undeveloped areas in . coastal high-hazard zones will be considered for reduction. . To limitpubljc expenditures in coastal high- hazard areas, expenditures in areas subject to de- struction by hurricanes will be limited to necessary repairs, public safety needs, services to existing residents, recreation, and op~n space uses. New causeways to islands and bridges to uI)developed barrier islands are prohibited, except to a~hieve evacuation clearance time objectives. . To mitigate hazards, all development regula- tions will be reviewed and revised to require reduction of vulnerability of future develop- ment in the FEMAA-Zone. Potential revisions inclu.de additional setbacks in critical erosior areas, conservation of dunes and vegetation, flood proofing of utilities, and structural wind resistance and floodplain management. The Lee County Land Development Code governs deyelopment review and approval. It -'-'-'-'-----j i i ~ ~ II: Is '0 lu '0: I!o! ,~ o , u. ._____.J ,--' i . i I Recommended i 0 Traffic Control i Points i i 'COLU~-COUNTY'-'-'-'-' includes zoning districts and procedures. The code contains secti~ns on hurricane prepared- ness, flood hazard reduction, environment and natural resources, and mangrove protection. It includes a wind-speed map showing areas sub- jectto 110-,120~, and 130-mile-per-hourwinds. All development must be consistent with the Lee Plan's Future Land Use Map, which desig- nates Non-Urban Areas .(one- to 10-acre lots) and Environmentally Critical Areas (wetlands, 20-acre lots) that generally coincide with flood hazard areas. Accordingtothe director of the Lee County Department of Community Develop- ment, implementation of county policies is carried out through zoning, building, and site plan review and permitting and development review. In the case of a development proposal that seeks to double the density on a coastal high-hazard area site but fails to nieet the haz- ard lTlitigation intent of the plan, for example, a planning staff letter might state: "It is counter to the goal of protecting life and property from natural disasters and the objective of reduc- ZONINGPRACTlCE 10.09 AMERICAN PlANNING ASSOCIATIONjpage 6