Conservation land not a viable option for new high school in Bonita Springs
Pine Lake Preserve, a Conservation 20/20 property in the Bonita Springs Density Reduction Groundwater Resource (Bonita DRGR) area has recently been proposed as a potential site for the new Bonita Springs High School, as has been reported in several news outlets. Unfortunately, this proposal completely disregards the inherent incompatibility of developing an intensive use on a property intended for preservation and restoration — on a site paid for by Lee County taxpayers’ dollars specifically allocated for conservation purposes.
Pine Lake Preserve was acquired as part of Lee County’s Conservation 20/20 program in order to preserve and restore habitat and hydrology in an area that has been severely impacted by manmade alterations to the water flows through the building of canals, roads and other development. This particular preserve land was also identified as a key component for restoration by the Bonita Springs Citizens Water Strategy Task Force (Water Task Force); restoration which will help restore critical flows and clean-up the water quality of the currently polluted Imperial River.
In order to achieve this needed restoration, Lee County and Bonita Springs had finalized a partnership agreement which was scheduled for approval by the Lee County Board of County Commissioners at its Nov. 17 meeting. Instead, the Lee BoCC voted to defer the agreement while directing county staff to explore whether the northern portion of Pine Lake Preserve could be considered as a prospective site for the high school. This action was followed the next day by a vote of the Bonita Springs City Council which also suggested that 20/20 sites, including Pine Lake Preserve, should be evaluated as options by the School Board for the high school.
The Conservancy of Southwest Florida has been a longtime proponent of conservation, restoration and water quality protection. Conservancy staff served on the Water Task Force and we continue to support the efforts of Conservation 20/20 to protect Lee County’s natural resources. Many hours of deliberation and expert input was considered during the Task Force meetings, resulting in 29 recommendations which were accepted for further consideration by the Bonita City Council. Among those, three of the recommendations directly relate to the importance of Pine Lake Preserve’s successful restoration.
The Conservancy understands the desire of the Bonita Springs community to find a suitable site for a new high school, and the associated challenges. Nonetheless, Pine Lake Preserve and other 20/20 properties do not qualify as appropriate locations. Even if the Water Task Force had never identified Pine Lake Preserve’s significance, the property’s status as protected conservation land should have precluded its consideration as a site for a public building in the first place.
If conservation lands are considered as viable sites every time obstacles arise in finding locations for new public infrastructure, there could be schools, landfills, and water treatment plants disrupting habitat, public recreation and water resource restoration throughout the region. This proposal could set a significant, negative precedent for conservation lands throughout southwest Florida, in Lee County and beyond.
Lee County and the City of Bonita Springs have a fiduciary and civic responsibility to protect the $3 million-plus of taxpayer investment expended for acquisition and management of Pine Lake Preserve by ensuring the Preserve is used consistent with the Conservation 20/20 Ordinance in place at the time of acquisition.
The Lee County School Board has an equally important fiduciary and civic responsibility to ensure that the site selected for the new Bonita Springs High School is consistent with all existing rules, regulations and ordinances, including Conservation 20/20. Such consistency would automatically eliminate Pine Lake Preserve from consideration.
The Conservancy urges the School Board, the Bonita Springs City Council, and the Lee County BoCC to act quickly to remove Pine Lake Preserve, and all Conservation 20/20 properties, from the potential high school site list. The integrity and intent of the Conservation 20/20 program is threatened by this proposal, as is the ability for Bonita to ultimately “get the water right.”
Authors:
- Nicole Johnson, Conservancy Director of Growth Management
- Marisa Carrozzo, Conservancy Natural Resource Specialist II
