Lee County faces lawsuits for allegedly violating rights of property owners

LEE COUNTY, Fla.- Taxpayers could be on the hook for millions of dollars.

The county is facing a number of lawsuits claiming it violated the rights of property owners.

It all centers on Pine Island, where developers want to build more but some homeowners are fighting back.

The county has spent decades trying to protect the island from too much development, and may have gone too far.

Pine Island has a permanent population of about 10,000. Lee County leaders have been worried about too much growth, and years ago, they approved the Pine Island plan.

The plan effectively blocks large-scale housing developments. It does so, in part, by limiting new homes to one per 10 acres on some parts of the island.

The rationale is that there could be a disaster during an emergency because there’s only one, two-lane bridge to get off the island.

“We have the right to limit growth, but how far you can take that? To whether it’s one residence or unit per acre, or one per ten acres. That’s the game we’re still playing,” said commissioner Frank Mann.

There are eight legal claims against Lee County. On Tuesday, commissioners approved a settlement for one lawsuit. The settlement stands to save the county up to several hundred thousand dollars in
potential damages.

The county attorney is trying to balance the environment and property rights.

“Those are the two competing interests we need to cognizant of as we move forward,” said attorney Richard Wesch.

Tuesday afternoon, Wesch briefed commissioners on the claims.

Some on the island are begging commissioners not to back down and not to open the island to big developments.

Still, it appears that commissioners feel they have to do something to avoid massive bills for
damages.

Trust WINK News to follow this story as it plays out in the coming months.