Twenty years ago, there was an island advisory committee that felt that we Islanders should have some control over our future. Frequently issues would arise, initiated by Charlotte County or an outside source or simply by circumstance, and it seemed like our community was tossed about like a cork on a wave.
We all wanted the same thing - - we wanted the island to remain the same as it was when we first stepped foot on the island side of the ferry. That wonderful feeling of "This is it. This is where I want my home. This is paradise."
So, the committee approached the County and said "What do we do about this? How do we get to participate in our future?" The answer was to create a Community Plan.
We all wanted the same thing - - we wanted the island to remain the same as it was when we first stepped foot on the island side of the ferry. That wonderful feeling of "This is it. This is where I want my home. This is paradise."
So, the committee approached the County and said "What do we do about this? How do we get to participate in our future?" The answer was to create a Community Plan.
2003-2006: The Island's VISION STATEMENT and COMMUNITY PLAN
From 2003 through 2006, Charlotte County assisted the Island stakeholders in a lengthy process to prepare for our collective futures. Community planning was a popular program at the time, allowing the County to know and understand the needs and wishes of their local neighborhoods. And though the original plan was never formally accepted by the County Commission, many of the recommendations and projects contained in the plan have been followed and accomplished.
|
Preserving "Pure Florida" (The Island Vision Statement) The County appointed Steering Committee hosted town hall meetings to arrive at a consensus vision of the Island's most important features and future priorities. It contains findings and recommendations for critical subjects from the environment to lifestyle and infrastructure. Much of the Vision Statement could have been written yesterday. |
|
|
The Thornton Key-Palm Island-Knight Island-Don Pedro Island Community Plan Weighing in at 69 pages, the TKPIKIDPI Community Plan isn't exactly a summer beach read. But the importance and relevance of this document makes it time well spent. With topics like development, green space, environmental quality (even iguanas!), navigation, beach renourishment, ferry service, roads, golf carts -- the list goes on and on -- there so much ground covered that there is little if anything left that has not been explored and addressed. |
|
Once again, the parallels to the Island of today are amazing.
"Making the short trip from the mainland, time appears to slow down – the cares and worries of the outside world seem to drift away, and one’s eyes and mind are opened to the natural beauty that abounds." (from "Preserving Pure Florida"/ Introduction to our Island Community) Don't you find that's still true?
It has been speculated that had our community plan been accepted by the County Commission, we may have had a different path to resolve issues like central sewer. Go ahead and dig in.
"Making the short trip from the mainland, time appears to slow down – the cares and worries of the outside world seem to drift away, and one’s eyes and mind are opened to the natural beauty that abounds." (from "Preserving Pure Florida"/ Introduction to our Island Community) Don't you find that's still true?
It has been speculated that had our community plan been accepted by the County Commission, we may have had a different path to resolve issues like central sewer. Go ahead and dig in.