‘Quiet zone’ residents speak loudly to Council
The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution was well utilized by a group of concerned ‘quiet zone’ residents attending the Fort Myers Beach Town Council meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 17.
By exercising their rights to freedom of speech, 13 Beach residents persuaded Council members to alter a Town-requested motion regarding a 2013 fiscal year Beach and Shoreline Tourist Development Council funding application and thereby prevent bayside right-of-ways from turning into official boat ramps or paddle craft launch sites.
Although Council members did unanimously approve to have Town staff prepare and submit three funding applications to Lee County TDC for beach and shoreline operations and maintenance, survey and title work for beach accesses where no surveys exist and capital improvements for shade structures at Newton Beach Park, they decided to omit language to have survey and title work done on bayside ROWs after residents voiced opposition to having accesses at the end of their narrow side streets opened up to the general public.
“There is no way to turn around at the end of these streets, and (people) are going to have to back their boats from Estero Boulevard all the way down,” said Coconut Drive resident Joe Workman. “I’ve heard boaters at 3 or 4 a.m. next to my place, hanging up in the mud, spinning their wheels and cursing. It’s something that I don’t want, and I don’t think that anyone that lives on one of these bay accesses wants either.”
“People who live on small, narrow streets should have the privacy of their streets. That is why they live there,” added fellow Coconut Drive resident Bill Johnson.
Neil Underwood, a 15-year winter resident on Coconut Drive, remembers when Lee County maintained his road’s bay access and had it listed as a launching site.
“It was an absolute horror show to see the boats that tried to get into this shallow area and narrow turn. And, they couldn’t park down there,” he said. “It would be a horrible mess to make that street a boat access area.”
Besides the turning, privacy and parking issues, concerns surrounded children at play, mailbox damage, emergency vehicle difficulty, decreased property values, derelict boat owners, policing issues, property encroachment and increased traffic intrusion on dead-end streets.
“If you really think about it, this is a commercial tourist venture that intrudes into citizen quiet zones,” said Bayland Road resident Judy Haataja. “Before this is all said and done, you’re going to have a problem with lawsuits.”
“We live on a very quiet street, and we don’t want anymore issues,” added Bayland Road resident Barbara Daniel.
The bayside part of the study, conducted by the Town’s Community Resources Advisory Board, originated from a Beach resident request to upgrade one of the Back Bay accesses. Council assigned the task as an information-seeking method.
Lee County TDC has established Feb. 24, 2012 as the deadline for all 2013 fiscal year funding requests. The Coastal Advisory Council as well as the TDC will evaluate the requests before making recommendations to the Lee Board of County Commissioners.
Town officials stated they would be asking for $726,852.57. The application monetary request will involve replacement of signage at beach accesses, continuing with ADA accessibility to modify one beach access structure, a share of equipment purchases, landscaping maintenance and improvements to the beach accesses and Old San Carlos Bayside Park, a shade structures at Newton Beach Park as well as solid waste and recycling issues at beach accesses.
“This started with the 16 beach accesses. What we were trying to do is put a model together and get an estimate of how much it might cost to do a beach access project with a bike rack, water fountain and pavers, etc.,” said Mayor Larry Kiker, who mentioned beach access improvements have been done at Aberdeen Avenue.
Two Town advisory committees -CRAB and Marine Resources Task Force- have been instrumental in the studies. Bay accesses were also looked into, and CRAB arranged two models.
“This is a movement by this Council to see if we can get some of our tourist tax dollars back into this community,” said Kiker. “Between Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel and Bonita, we account for almost 65 percent of the money that goes into TDC.”
Town Manager Terry Stewart pointed out the only context for motorized craft in the bay access boat ramp study centered on a dinghy dock in the water at the end of Gulf Beach Road (behind Topp’s Supermarket).
For now, unified public outcry has put an end to County influence regarding bayside accesses on residential Beach side streets. Town officials may do a future survey on those roads without TDC funding.
“It’s pretty clear and understandable what your feelings are on this topic,” said Councilman Alan Mandel to the public speakers.
“Maybe the best decision is not to make one,” Kiker concluded.
‘Quiet zone’ residents speak loudly to Council
The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution was well utilized by a group of concerned ‘quiet zone’ residents attending the Fort Myers Beach Town Council meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 17.
By exercising their rights to freedom of speech, 13 Beach residents persuaded Council members to alter a Town-requested motion regarding a 2013 fiscal year Beach and Shoreline Tourist Development Council funding application and thereby preventing bayside right-of-ways from turning into official boat ramps or paddle craft launch sites.
Although Council members did unanimously approve to have Town staff prepare and submit three funding applications to Lee County TDC for beach and shoreline operations and maintenance, survey and title work for beach accesses where no surveys exist and capital improvements for shade structures at Newton Beach Park, they decided to omit language to have survey and title work done on bayside ROWs after residents voiced opposition to having accesses at the end of their narrow side streets opened up to the general public.
“There is no way to turn around at the end of these streets, and (people) are going to have to back their boats from Estero Boulevard all the way down,” said Coconut Drive resident Joe Workman. “I’ve heard boaters at 3 or 4 a.m. next to my place, hanging up in the mud, spinning their wheels and cursing. It’s something that I don’t want, and I don’t think that anyone that lives on one of these bay accesses wants either.”
“People who live on small, narrow streets should have the privacy of their streets. That is why they live there,” added fellow Coconut Drive resident Bill Johnson.
Neil Underwood, a 15-year winter resident on Coconut Drive, remembers when Lee County maintained his road’s bay access and had it listed as a launching site.
“It was an absolute horror show to see the boats that tried to get into this shallow area and narrow turn. And, they couldn’t park down there,” he said. “It would be a horrible mess to make that street a boat access area.”
Besides the turning, privacy and parking issues, concerns surrounded children at play, mailbox damage, emergency vehicle difficulty, decreased property values, derelict boat owners, policing issues, property encroachment and increased traffic intrusion on dead-end streets.
“If you really think about it, this is a commercial tourist venture that intrudes into citizen quiet zones,” said Bayland Road resident Judy Haataja. “Before this is all said and done, you’re going to have a problem with lawsuits.”
“We live on a very quiet street, and we don’t want anymore issues,” added Bayland Road resident Barbara Daniel.
The bayside part of the study, conducted by the Town’s Community Resources Advisory Board, originated from a Beach resident request to upgrade one of the Back Bay accesses. Council assigned the task as an information-seeking method.
Lee County TDC has established Feb. 24, 2012 as the deadline for all 2013 fiscal year funding requests. The Coastal Advisory Council as well as the TDC will evaluate the requests before making recommendations to the Lee Board of County Commissioners.
Town officials stated they would be asking for $726,852.57. The application monetary request will involve replacement of signage at beach accesses, continuing with ADA accessibility to modify one beach access structure, a share of equipment purchases, landscaping maintenance and improvements to the beach accesses and Old San Carlos Bayside Park, a shade structures at Newton Beach Park as well as solid waste and recycling issues at beach accesses.
“This started with the 16 beach accesses. What we were trying to do is put a model together and get an estimate of how much it might cost to do a beach access project with a bike rack, water fountain and pavers, etc.,” said Mayor Larry Kiker, who mentioned beach access improvements have been done at Aberdeen Avenue.
Two Town advisory committees -CRAB and Marine Resources Task Force- have been instrumental in the studies. Bay accesses were also looked into, and CRAB arranged two models.
“This is a movement by this Council to see if we can get some of our tourist tax dollars back into this community,” said Kiker. “Between Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel and Bonita, we account for almost 65 percent of the money that goes into TDC.”
Town Manager Terry Stewart pointed out the only context for motorized craft in the bay access boat ramp study centered on a dinghy dock in the water at the end of Gulf Beach Road (behind Topp’s Supermarket).
For now, unified public outcry has put an end to County influence regarding bayside accesses on residential Beach side streets. Town officials may do a future survey on those roads without TDC funding.
“It’s pretty clear and understandable what your feelings are on this topic,” said Councilman Alan Mandel to the public speakers.
“Maybe the best decision is not to make one,” Kiker concluded.