Lee County officials propose reducing public input on land development

Lee County officials have proposed revisions to the Lee Plan that would significantly reduce public oversight regarding land-use changes. During a recent presentation at the North Fort Myers Rec Center, planners detailed a rewrite of the plan intended to ‘streamline’ the development process.

A key component of the proposal is that developers would no longer be required to hold public hearings when seeking to change parts of the plan; instead, such hearings would be voluntary. Local residents and community leaders, including public relations expert Nadine Slimak, have expressed opposition to the move, arguing that eliminating public input favors developers and risks increasing urban sprawl in areas still recovering from Hurricane Ian.