Friday, 14 April 2006 01:00
Judah-Babcock 1
Charlotte County Commissioners recently voted to allow changes to their comprehensive plans to allow more development on the 90-thousand acre ranch.
Now Kitson needs similar approval from the Lee County Commission to build his town of 40-thousand residents.
Judah says now it’s up to Kitson to convince Lee Commissioners he’ll put his money where his mouth is when it comes to infrastructure upgrades…
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“What we need to be sure of is if in fact we do amend our comprehensive plan, do provide for the rezonings that need to take place, that we ensure that Mr. Kitson is held accountable for providing for the funding to pay for the infrastructure. You know, from school sites to road improvements…all the way down the line.”
Judah says he’s concerned that while most of the ranch lies in Charlotte County, any new development there will just add to already crowded roads in Lee County.
About 14-thousand-acres of the Babcock property are in Lee County.
Now Kitson needs similar approval from the Lee County Commission to build his town of 40-thousand residents.
Judah says now it’s up to Kitson to convince Lee Commissioners he’ll put his money where his mouth is when it comes to infrastructure upgrades…
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“What we need to be sure of is if in fact we do amend our comprehensive plan, do provide for the rezonings that need to take place, that we ensure that Mr. Kitson is held accountable for providing for the funding to pay for the infrastructure. You know, from school sites to road improvements…all the way down the line.”
Judah says he’s concerned that while most of the ranch lies in Charlotte County, any new development there will just add to already crowded roads in Lee County.
About 14-thousand-acres of the Babcock property are in Lee County.
Published in
WGCU News
Friday, 14 April 2006 01:00
Judah Babcock 2
Although most of the planned town would be in Charlotte County, Kitson still needs to convince Lee County Commissioners to allow more development in the Lee portion before moving forward with his planned town of about 40-thousand people.
Lee County Commissioner Ray Judah says they’re reviewing Kitson’s proposal now…and it stands a pretty good chance of being approved.
Judah says while he would’ve like to see the whole property preserved, saving most of it is a good deal for everyone.
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“You know it’s unfortunate that the state just didn’t step in and work out a deal to purchase the entire 92-thousand acres. It could’ve been done, it wasn’t done. We’re now trying to deal with the next best option. And with 90-percent of the land being set aside to be protected, that’s a good chunk of land.”
Judah says to put it into perspective the amount of land that will be saved if this deal goes through would be twice what Lee County’s been able to set aside for preservation in the past 15 years.
About 14-thousand of the more than 90-thousand acre ranch is in Lee County.
Lee County Commissioner Ray Judah says they’re reviewing Kitson’s proposal now…and it stands a pretty good chance of being approved.
Judah says while he would’ve like to see the whole property preserved, saving most of it is a good deal for everyone.
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“You know it’s unfortunate that the state just didn’t step in and work out a deal to purchase the entire 92-thousand acres. It could’ve been done, it wasn’t done. We’re now trying to deal with the next best option. And with 90-percent of the land being set aside to be protected, that’s a good chunk of land.”
Judah says to put it into perspective the amount of land that will be saved if this deal goes through would be twice what Lee County’s been able to set aside for preservation in the past 15 years.
About 14-thousand of the more than 90-thousand acre ranch is in Lee County.
Published in
WGCU News
Friday, 24 February 2006 00:00
Traffic Craziness
Authorities closed Metro Parkway between Colonial and Crystal Drive until just after noon. The shutdown crippled LeeTran, the county’s public bus system, because their depot was in the cordoned-off area. As many as 4-thousand riders were left with no way to get to work. LeeTran spokeswoman Joann Haley says the closure was like a set of dominoes.
“The way that the impact kind of moves out in waves from the center of a situation whether it be an accident or a road closure.”
Investigators blocked off Metro as they searched for evidence in a fatal car shooting. Tens of thousands of motorists got trapped in the resulting parking lot traffic jam as they flooded other roads. The delay also meant a loss of money and productivity. William called into W-G-C-U’s Gulf Coast Live to say three houses didn’t get his tile deliveries.
“The homeowners are now a day behind and the general contractor now has to pay for an extra day for those houses to not be closing.”
The two-mile Metro shutdown is further proof of this region’s overtaxed roads. Planners say they’re doing what they can to make do with too many cars and not enough transportation arteries.
“The way that the impact kind of moves out in waves from the center of a situation whether it be an accident or a road closure.”
Investigators blocked off Metro as they searched for evidence in a fatal car shooting. Tens of thousands of motorists got trapped in the resulting parking lot traffic jam as they flooded other roads. The delay also meant a loss of money and productivity. William called into W-G-C-U’s Gulf Coast Live to say three houses didn’t get his tile deliveries.
“The homeowners are now a day behind and the general contractor now has to pay for an extra day for those houses to not be closing.”
The two-mile Metro shutdown is further proof of this region’s overtaxed roads. Planners say they’re doing what they can to make do with too many cars and not enough transportation arteries.
Published in
WGCU News
Friday, 06 January 2006 00:00
Coastal Committee
The Governor's Coastal High Hazard Study Committee is meeting in Lee County this week - hearing coastal residents' concerns following two record breaking hurricane seasons. WGCU's Valerie Alker reports.
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WGCU News
Tuesday, 22 November 2005 00:00
Scripps Building Stopped
The future of the Scripps Research Center will be on the agenda for Palm Beach County commissioners today. As Stacey Singer reports, a clarification issued U-S District Judge Donald Middlebrooks allows a bit more infrastructure on the former Mecca Farms orange grove, but not what the county and Scripps wanted…
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WGCU News
Wednesday, 07 September 2005 01:00
Tamiami Trail
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is out with a new plan to restore fresh water flow to Everglades National Park and Florida Bay. Amy Tardif describes the decade-long, controversial effort to redesign the Tamiami Trail. (AUDIO)
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WGCU News
Monday, 22 August 2005 01:00
RSW
Lee County Port Authority staff is preparing for the move to the new Midfield Terminal at Southwest Florida International Airport. Valerie Alker reports. (AUDIO)
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WGCU News
Monday, 01 August 2005 01:00
Impact Fee Study
School impact fees in Lee County could rise 95 percent for every future single family home built. Those are one-time fees charged on new construction to help pay for services, including new school construction. The increase is a recommendation in a new 32-page study on school impact fees, released today. Amy Tardif has more.
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WGCU News