A meeting was held by Johnson Engineering and SMH representatives on Wednesday, July 30 at the First Baptist Church of LaBelle.
SMH is the St. Mathews House company that has run the Port LaBelle Inn for several years with a few hotel guests on the second floor, while housing drug and alcohol rehab clients on the entire third floor. The hotel is now closed.
The large scale proposal includes building 28 multi-family units, 14 future guest/visitor rooms, 10 guest cottages, 14 single-family homes, 40,000 square feet of commercial use and 120,000 square feet of self-storage units.
Aerial Photo by Don Browne - Port LaBelle Inn property
The changes have to be approved by both Hendry and Glades county, and the state as the requests involve changing the zoning, and changing the Comprehensive Land Plan for both Hendry and Glades county, the Comp Plan has to be approved by the State.
The Local Planning Agency and the Board of County Commissioner for each county will hold public hearings to approve or deny the petitions based on recommendations from each county's building and zoning departments and public comments at the public meetings.
Johnson Engineering Responses To Questions
Some questions have been raised and submitted to Johnson Engineering. Amanda Martin, senior planner at Johnson responded Thursday, August 8 to these questions:
Some questions have been raised and submitted to Johnson Engineering. Amanda Martin, senior planner at Johnson responded Thursday, August 8 to these questions:
Is it true that there is someone who will partner with SMH in the development of the property pending the approvals? Is it true that SMH has had discussions with a party who is interested in purchasing the property subject to the approvals?
Answer: SMH is not partnered with anyone in the development of the property and is not in discussions with any party about purchasing the property.
How does the proposed change affect the Comprehensive Land Plan for Hendry and Glades County, including the requirement for Recreation Use?
Answer: The Glades County Comprehensive Plan Recreation & Open Space Element Policy VI-1.1F establishes the following park level-of-service standards: 1 acre of Mini Parks per 2,500 persons; 2 acres of Neighborhood Parks per 5,000 persons; 5 acres of Community Parks per 5,000 persons. If the 25.5 acres of SMH property changes from the current “Park” designation to “Transition” designation and from C-1 zoning to Planned Development (PD) zoning as proposed, the inventory of Glades County parks will continue to exceed the adopted level of service standards.
Note: The recreation use requirements for Hendry county was not answered by Johnson.
Has a soil test been performed for dangerous chemicals (arsenic) which was used on the former golf course land? And environmental study all other issues?
Has a soil test been performed for dangerous chemicals (arsenic) which was used on the former golf course land? And environmental study all other issues?
The soil tests and studies would come at a later date, Martin replied during the July 30 meeting.
Which county departments have given their approval so far in the Comp Plan and Zoning request process?
Which county departments have given their approval so far in the Comp Plan and Zoning request process?
Answer: Glades County planning staff has completed their review of the Comprehensive Plan Amendment and is still reviewing the zoning request. They have yet to schedule the Local Planning Agency and Board of County Commissioner hearings. Hendry County planning and engineering staff indicate their reviews are complete and have yet to schedule Local Planning Agency and Board of County Commissioner hearings.
Who has been sent notice of the July 30 meeting?
Who has been sent notice of the July 30 meeting?
Answer: Notice about the July 30 meeting was sent by mail to property owners within 750’ of the site.
Note that no property owners beyond 750 feet from the Port LaBelle Inn received any notice of the meeting.
Note that no property owners beyond 750 feet from the Port LaBelle Inn received any notice of the meeting.
How many Hendry and Glades county deputies responded to calls to the Port LaBelle Inn while it was housing drug/alcohol clients.
Answer: We will pursue getting this to the extent it’s available from the sheriff’s office.
Answer: We will pursue getting this to the extent it’s available from the sheriff’s office.
The Hendry County Concurrency Management Element Policy 1.1.2 establishes the following recreation and parks level of service standards:
Regional Parks - 20 acres/1000 population (250 acres minimum)
Community Parks - 2 acres/1000 population (20 acres minimum)
Neighborhood Parks - 2 acres/1000 population (5 acres minimum)
The Hendry County portion of the site is currently designated in the Leisure/Recreation Future Land Use Category, but is not inventoried as a public park asset for meeting recreation & parks level of service within Hendry County. If the 20.4 acres of SMH property changes from the current “Leisure/Recreation” designation to “Multi-Use Development” designation and from C-3 and General Agriculture (A-2) zoning to Planned Unit Development (PUD) zoning as proposed, the inventory of Hendry County parks will not change from the current level of service.
Notices will be mailed to surrounding property owners within 750’ prior to public hearings.
Glades County or Hendry County did not request significant changes during review of the Comprehensive Plan Amendment applications. All comments were housekeeping in nature.
Regional Parks - 20 acres/1000 population (250 acres minimum)
Community Parks - 2 acres/1000 population (20 acres minimum)
Neighborhood Parks - 2 acres/1000 population (5 acres minimum)
The Hendry County portion of the site is currently designated in the Leisure/Recreation Future Land Use Category, but is not inventoried as a public park asset for meeting recreation & parks level of service within Hendry County. If the 20.4 acres of SMH property changes from the current “Leisure/Recreation” designation to “Multi-Use Development” designation and from C-3 and General Agriculture (A-2) zoning to Planned Unit Development (PUD) zoning as proposed, the inventory of Hendry County parks will not change from the current level of service.
Notices will be mailed to surrounding property owners within 750’ prior to public hearings.
Glades County or Hendry County did not request significant changes during review of the Comprehensive Plan Amendment applications. All comments were housekeeping in nature.
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