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Planning in the Wake of Florida Land Scams

A broad view of planning problems created by antiquated or obsolete subdivisions is available from a journal article, Planning in the Wake of Florida Land Scams, written by Bill Spikowski and Hubert B. Stroud, professor of geography at Arkansas State University. This article examines the spectrum of planning techniques available for responding to these problems, with special attention to Florida. Lehigh Acres (FL) is examined in detail in this article’s case study.

View the full text of the journal article here; it is available in two formats:

  • Plain text version, in HTML format for viewing in any web browser; or
  • Complete version with all graphics, in PDF format for viewing and printing from newer web browsers or with Acrobat Reader software. If you need the Adobe Acrobat Reader to access PDF files, it is available by clicking on the yellow "GET ACROBAT READER" button and downloading the free software directly from Adobe.

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PAST FLORIDA STUDIES ON ANTIQUATED/OBSOLETE SUBDIVISIONS:

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POPULATION FORECASTS FOR LEHIGH ACRES: "Population Model to Forecast Population Growth of Lehigh Acres Over Time To Buildout," has been prepared for the Lee County Smart Growth Program by Van Buskirk, Ryffel and Associates. This report predicts that, barring unusual dislocations of finance markets, Lehigh Acres is entering a period of rapid population growth akin to the growth Lee County as a whole has had over the last 30 years. This in turn will create huge demands for social and physical infrastructure that the current plat system will make extraordinarily difficult to provide. Download the entire report: opulation Model to Forecast Population Growth of Lehigh Acres Over Time To Buildout.

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INCORPORATION OF LEHIGH ACRES: In 2008, voters in Lehigh Acres were asked in a straw ballot if they favored incorporation of Lehigh Acres into its own city. The results were negative. A pre-incorporation feasibility study was prepared in 2003 by BJM Consulting; that study can be reviewed here.

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THE BIG PICTURE: There is renewed interest at other levels in resolving some of the fundamental land planning problems in Lehigh Acres, as a result of an August 2003 forum, "Awakening the Sleeping Giants -- Transforming Platted Lands to Improve their Livability."  This forum was sponsored by the Urban Land Institute's Southwest Florida District Council and by the Promised Lands Section of the Florida Chapter of the American Planning Association.

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Public Land Acquisition Trust (PLAT)

Jim Fleming, a former supervisor of the East County Water Control District, had proposed a Public Land Acquisition Trust (PLAT) for Lehigh Acres. Read his proposal here in either of two formats:

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Read PASt newspaper and magazine articles here: