Sanibel, Florida, Plan Receives 2007 National Planning Landmark Award
Publicized in:
American Planning
Publication Date: December 19, 2006
WASHINGTON, DC Despite
widespread growth throughout much of Florida during the past 30 years, the City
of Sanibel adopted a comprehensive plan that allowed the community to find
a balance between development and protection of its rich wildlife habitat
and other natural resources. For its historic planning vision and commitment to
implement that vision, the city's Sanibel Plan is receiving the American
Planning Association's 2007 National Planning Landmark Award.
'The city's 1976 plan has not only allowed Sanibel to ensure
development doesn't exceed the natural carrying capacity of the island,'
said APA Awards Jury Chair Carol Rhea, AICP, 'but it also ensured that the
city's infrastructure systems and hurricane evacuation routes would not be
overtaxed by too many residents.'
Officials representing the city and its nationally renowned
plan will be recognized at APA's National Planning Conference during a special
luncheon and awards ceremony Tuesday, April 17, 2007 in Philadelphia. In
addition, the accomplishments of Sanibel and 13 other national awardees will be
highlighted in the April issue of Planning magazine.
Faced with rampant growth plans by Lee County, citizens made
a decisive decision in 1974 to form the City of Sanibel. From its nascent days,
city leaders wrestled with concerns about hurricane evacuation, adequate
infrastructure, and environmentally compatible growth. They understood the need
for a scientific analysis of the island's ecological resources as well as for
developing a comprehensive plan and implementation strategy.
'City leaders recognized their plan was only as strong as
the commitment to put the plan into action,' said Sanibel Planning Director
Robert Duffy, AICP. 'To do that successfully required long-term partnerships and
sustained community support.'
A visit to the island leaves no doubts about the benefits
and positive outcomes that have occurred as a result of the plan. When the
decision was made to create a plan for the city and island, nine ecological
zones were identified and established. For each of these zones planners
recommended appropriate land uses, intensity, and performance standards. For
example, instead of keeping the island's preexisting zoning and development
standards, which would have allowed about 30,000 residential units on Sanibel,
the Plan recommended that the number be kept to 7,800. Subsequent changes
to the plan led to 9,000 new units being built, a number that has not changed
since 1989.
A corresponding Land Development Code included two other
important goals: limit population levels to allow for safe hurricane evacuation
over the island's two-lane causeway and assuring that the island's
infrastructure would not be overburdened. Through the plan the city also
established housing affordability and residential diversity policies. These
measures and related financing components helped place Sanibel in the forefront
of American cities recognizing the value of public- and private-entity
partnerships to provide affordable housing.
For a list of all of the APA 2007 National Planning
Excellence, Achievement, and Leadership Award recipients, visit www.planning.org/newsreleases/2006/ftp121506.htm. APA's National Planning Awards, considered by U.S. planners to be
the profession's highest honor, is a tradition established more than 50 years
ago to recognize outstanding community plans, planning programs and initiatives,
public education efforts, and individuals for their leadership on planning
issues.
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