Mission Statement: Improve the quality of life and sense of place of our community and neighborhoods through protection and conservation of our historic and natural resources utilizing best planning practices to provide a healthy and vibrant community for future generations.
Comprehensive Planning
Under comprehensive planning the department is responsible for the long range planning for the City of Fort Myers, the Comprehensive Plan, park inventory and analysis, interlocal agreements, environmental planning, and population and other demographic projections/data. The Comprehensive Planner reviews Developments of Regional Impact (DRI) within the region and reviews all City zoning change requests for consistency with the Comprehensive Plan. The Comprehensive Planner is also responsible for processing all Future Land Use Map and Comprehensive Plan amendments, annexations and DRIs within the City of Fort Myers. DRIs are designated pursuant to criteria contained in Florida Statutes. For more specific information on DRIs and State planning, visit the Department of Community Affairs.
Historic Preservation
The program concentrates on the administration and oversight of activities in four historic districts (Dean Park, Edison Park, Seminole Park, and the Downtown) to include review of Certificate of Review applications as required by the Historic Preservation Ordinance, Chapter 114 of the Land Development Code. A nine member board reviews submitted applications for compliance with Chapter 114 and the Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation and Guidelines for Rehabilitating Historic Buildings. Administration of this program includes the Ad Valorem Tax Incentive Program, application review and consistency, site visits, local historic landmark and district designations, and grant submittal and monitoring.
Certificate of Review and Designation of Local Landmarks and District applications in PDF format are available for download.
Neighborhood Planning
The neighborhood planners are responsible for creating and implementing neighborhood plans for the City of Fort Myers. The current projects under neighborhood planning include: Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. and Veronica S. Shoemaker Boulevards Revitalization Plan, East Fort Myers Redevelopment and Revitalization Plan, Winkler Safe Neighborhood Improvement District Plan, Eastwood Village Redevelopment Plan, Dunbar-Michigan Redevelopment Plan, and the Westwood Redevelopment Plan. The Neighborhood planners also oversee the Neighborhood Street Improvement Program, the Winkler Safe Neighborhood Improvement District, and the City of Fort Myers/Lee County Enterprise Zone Board.
Street Improvement Program
Initially, property owners are provided with a decorative street lighting survey. The property owners must return a 50% 1 (in favor) vote to proceed with the project. A public meeting is held on the street with the property owners to hand out cost estimate surveys property owners must also return another 50% 1 (in favor) vote to proceed. Once all information is received from the participating neighborhoods, a Special Assessment District is established.