More parking letters
Hudson’s Grocery, lunch at Temp part of daily island visits
To the Editor:
We have been vacationing on the island since the early ‘90s spending an enjoyable week or two with our family and have always felt comfortable and welcomed there.
When I retired from my medical practice in 2016, we began renting for two months at a time but found the rent much too high for extended stays. We also could not afford to buy and maintain a place on the island. We finally found a property off island in Windward that worked for us so we could come over almost daily, sometimes twice a day to go to the beach, shop at Hudson’s etc., and eat at local restaurants. We are happy with parking the way it is.
We are not sure how the proposed changes would affect us but suspect the effect will be negative.
If nothing else it gives us the feeling that we are no longer welcomed there and home owners on the island would rather we not come. We were there for four months last year but are not residents so we don’t have a vote but for those who do, in trying to fix a parking problem beware of collateral damage and unintended consequences.
Dr. and Mrs. Joseph Panella
Placida
Metered parking would be disaster for Boca Grande
To the Editor:
It is difficult to express what a negative effect parking meters in Boca Grande would have on our quality of life here on the island. When I go into town in my golf cart, I might have lunch at the Temp, then pick up my mail at the Post Office, pick up some food at Hudson’s and perhaps head to Newlin’s. Having to feed four parking meters along the way would certainly degrade that experience. Parking meters are not only a nuisance, they’re also ugly. We have a casual, unstructured way of life in Boca Grande that we dearly love. It is my opinion that parking meters are just one more assault on our quality of life here on the island. What works in Ft. Myers might not be appropriate for us here in Boca Grande.
Please hold off any public discussion of changes to the parking situation on the island until more of us are back in late October or in November Our input would be helpful for you all to determine what would a plus for the people who live, work, and visit here, and what would be a negative. Something with as much impact to our quality of life as parking meters should not be done when most of us are not in town.
Thank you for your consideration.
Hank Yeiser
Boca Grande
P.S. One suggestion I would make would be to have a dashed line down the center of the angle parking places so that people with golf carts understand the there is room for two golf carts in every space with careful parking. There is also room for two carts in parallel parking spots. Parking meters would probably make this practice illegal, which would be unfortunate.
Solutions from public meetings
The following letter was sent to Lee Commissioners, as well as copied to the Boca Beacon.
To the Commissioners:
According to the website Leegov, Boca Grande is described as a coastal community at the mouth of Charlotte Harbor with community planning efforts that “seek to guard its unique way of life, delicate environment, historic character, and cultural gifts through its community planning and historic preservation projects.” It also clearly states that for county approval of projects the county must “conduct one public informational session within the community plan area prior to obtaining a finding of sufficiency.”
What that information says to me and to a majority of the Boca Grande citizens is that every governmental entity, be it County or State can alter our community only with public input that takes place in Boca Grande.
From fourteen years’ experience on the Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority (GIBA), I can confidently state that this wonderful community moves forward in solving problems only with public meetings that allow all opinions to be heard and considered. Every issue that GIBA faced including design of three new bridges, funding options of the bridges like ad-valorem taxes or increased tolls, and weight limit restrictions were openly discussed with the community at advertised and Sunshine Law held meetings. No decisions were ever made in unpublicized meetings in rooms 66 miles away by people who do not live here.
The people of Boca Grande, year-round citizens like me, seasonal residents like most of my neighbors, and the local business community which supports and takes great pride in providing all of us this unique way of life care very much about our “unique” community. Diverse opinions many times drive simple solutions that work for all, but only when everyone has a voice. Just think, we residents could be paying an extra ad-valorem cost on our property tax bill if GIBA had only listened to a few who thought raising resident taxes was the easiest solution. Instead, we listened and found a much more reasonable and simple solution in the Florida State Infrastructure Bank.
I truly believe that by listening to the voices of the people, residents, businesses, and churches, we can find a solution that works better than parking meters or other devices that are not a part of our unique community. One of the shining attributes of most of the residents and guests that I have seen for the fifty years my family has enjoyed Boca Grande, is that we know how to show patience and care. Crowded holidays, friendly people, and tarpon fishing are just who we are. Parking meters and taxes without input are not who we are.
I respectfully request that you place on hold any parking plans until mandated public meetings in the area can be held in the fall to listen to all our voices.
Ginger Watkins
Boca Grande
Parking changes impact churches
The following letter was sent to the Lee County Commissioners, as well as copied to the Boca Beacon.
To the Commissioners:
First, THANK YOU to each of you for your service to the community. The economic and political challenges of public office during these times has to be exhausting. Your commitment to endeavor to act on behalf of your constituents is to be respected.
Second, in order that you are able to execute your duties as a Commissioner it is important that you are fully informed. Parking regulations on Boca Grande are a complex issue. Regulations impact the various components of the community in separate ways. All components need to be able to present their needs and concerns. Therefore, a request is put forth to you to schedule a community meeting on the island in November when there is an optimum opportunity for all components to be represented.
Third, as Senior Warden at St. Andrew’s, I am deeply concerned that the type of regulations that have been communicated to date would seriously impact the health and viability of our church. It is vital to our future that we exist in a welcoming and non-restrictive environment.
Your thoughtful consideration to this request is greatly appreciated.
David Smith
Senior Warden, St. Andrew’s
Boca Grande
