The city’s management and land codes are informed by this vision document and its goals. It must reflect your values.
They want to know if the core goal of the Vision is still important to you: To maintain the small town charm and character of Naples. That Goal and insuring that the carrying capacity of our infrastructure is not exceeded, as well as recognizing the primacy of residents have been the vision goals going back to the late 70’s.
We feel they are not only still relevant, but that support for them in the document should be bolstered, they should be protected, and the goals should be enforced.
The facilitator of this outreach for the city is Stantec, and they have arranged for 4 workshops over the next two weeks to collect your input. Don’t miss this opportunity. Residents pay over 90% of the taxes that fund the City of Naples and it is appropriate that your opinion be heard.
Following the workshops Stantec will develop an on-line survey, available in February which will determine if the Naples Vision Document should be changed.
Now is the time for you and your neighbors to speak up regarding your values at one or all of the upcoming January Workshops:
Monday January 14th 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. St Ann's Catholic Church Rooney Hall 995 3rd Street South
Wednesday January 16th 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. River Park Community Center 301 11th Street North
Tuesday, January 22nd 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Emmanuel Lutheran Church - Family Life Center 777 Mooring Line Drive
Thursday January 24th 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. St. John's Episcopal Church - Sugden Hall 500 Park Shore Drive
Recently several Home Owner Association's across the city united in defining their shared values and delivered that to PAB and City Council. See the letter Here
Those HOA shared values reflect the following, broader opinions:
The residents' vision of the city's future is paramount and the city must recognize the primacy of residents when developing policy.
It is essential to enforce the zoning and land development codes to properly manage growth and re-development and to protect our infrastructure which is not unlimited. Managed growth is critical.
Variances granted and exceptions to height, density, and intensity codes have become expected by investors and these deviations affect our quality of life and stress our resources; variances should be the exception, not the norm.
These deviations erode the character and charm of our city, increase traffic and impact our neighborhoods. It is the responsibility of our elected officials to protect the vision’s goals and respect our codes.
The city must be careful stewards of our waterways, gulf, and beaches and must manage storm water to protect those resources which are already adversely impacted, especially with the exponential growth of Collier County occurring around us and the added stress that puts on our infrastructure.
Variances that allow for increased lot coverage granted to developers reduces our green space and directly impacts our storm water management and our natural resources.
Neighborhoods should be protected and traffic managed. The Character and charm of our city must be preserved and we must ensure against overdevelopment.
The residential boundaries should be respected, neighborhood land should not be rezoned to accommodate projects such as commercial parking garages.
Everyone appreciates a vibrant commercial community. Residents sustain the business owners; we can have a vibrant commercial community and also the desired charming small town feel that attracts so many to the City of Naples. Working within the density and intensity codes is the best place to start.
Now the city must hear from you:
Make sure to attend a workshop and make your opinions known. Follow up by participating in the on line survey when it becomes available in February. This survey will determine the city’s direction.
Share information about this critical outreach with your neighbors and encourage them to participate.
Visit the city website at: www.naplesgov.com search for and read the current 2007 Vision Document
Visit naplesvisioning.com where the facilitator of this project, Stantec Corporation, will post information and updates.