Board expands plan development boundary for LCEC mobile substation storage facility

Lee County commissioners on July 21 approved an amendment to increase the boundary of a plan development and amend its master concept plan to expand an existing equipment storage facility used by LCEC. The expansion affects 0.58 acres across parcels on Electric Avenue and East Mariana Avenue in the North Fort Myers planning community.

Beth Workman, principal planner in the county zoning section, said the properties are in the Central Urban and Public Facilities future land-use categories and currently zoned CFPD, CPD and RS-1. The hearing examiner recommended approval with conditions and deviations; there were no participants of record. A commissioner moved to approve the hearing-examiner recommendation, a second was made, and the motion carried.

Staff described the request as an increase of 0.58 acres to the plan development to accommodate storage for mobile substation equipment at addresses including 1611–1651 Electric Avenue and 144 East Mariana Avenue. Workman said the hearing-examiner recommendation included conditions; the transcript does not record the full text of those conditions. No speakers identified project schedules, contractors or funding sources during the hearing.

The board approved the amendment by motion; no roll-call vote tally was provided in the hearing transcript. The item will proceed under the county's plan-development process and any required building or site permits must be pursued under applicable county codes.