Consultant: Fort Myers six months into 18‑month comprehensive‑plan update

City officials told the Fort Myers City Council workshop that a long‑overdue update to the city's comprehensive plan is underway and on a roughly 18‑month timeline. Consultant Luis Serna of Calvin Giordano & Associates said the team has completed six months of work focusing on data collection — population, housing, parks, transportation, water and sewer — and two of four planned community engagement meetings. "We are 6 months into an 18 month process to update the comprehensive plan," Serna said.

City staff said the goal is a usable, living plan that will guide zoning and long‑term decisions rather than sit on a shelf. Council members pressed whether the comp plan will be translated into the land‑development code — the legal tool that gives policies enforceable effect. Staff responded that code work would follow the plan and that specific code changes will be identified as the update proceeds. Council members also asked that outreach reach younger and underrepresented residents; Serna said the team is using different meeting times and locations and an online survey to broaden participation.