We won...didn't we?
NO we did not...
Sorry to tell you, but the fight is still on! St. Matthews House has left town for now but they can come back in a heart beat. Here is how...The development order (DO) was submitted by Development Associates. This is the company which represents the owner of the land. When the development order is finally approved, the land owner has the ability to bring in any organization and offer to lease or sell the land to them for use as a shelter. The development order is valid for 6 years and is tied to the land parcel. With an approved DO on the land, the hurdles are gone. Without any hurdles, Saint Matthews House could change their mind and persue this site in Bonita Springs once more.
With the development order still being processed by the city, the threat of a homeless shelter is very real.
What can we do now?
The main obsticle right now is public knowledge and opinion. Many people think that this shelter threat is over. We need to educate our friends and neighbors that this threat still exists in a very big way. In a recent newspaper article, Charlie Mauer (President of Development Associates) stated that his firm will continue to pursue the development order. See the excerpt from the article and the complete link below...
NaplesNews.com
By Tracy X. Miguel
Posted June 24, 2012 at 4pm
...When Collier County-based St. Matthew's House announced last week that it was dropping plans to open a shelter at the corner of Old 41 Road and Cockleshell Court, the property owner said he still would pursue approval to open a shelter at the site.
"We will continue to pursue the development order as we are entitled under the city of Bonita Springs land development code," Charlie Maurer, developer for the Bernwood site and agent for the estate, said Friday. "We expect to get the development order issued shortly."
Maurer said he wouldn't discuss potential buyers or operators of the property. ...
http://www.naplesnews.com/news/2012/jun/24/homeless-shelter-bonita-springs-old-41-bernwood/ "We will continue to pursue the development order as we are entitled under the city of Bonita Springs land development code," Charlie Maurer, developer for the Bernwood site and agent for the estate, said Friday. "We expect to get the development order issued shortly."
Maurer said he wouldn't discuss potential buyers or operators of the property. ...
So as you can see by the above article, the threat of a shelter is real and we need to continue to educate our fellow residents about this situation. The City has retained local outside counsel to research and advise whether the moratorium applies to this development order application, whether the restrictions can be made retroactive and whether the use could or should be denied for other reasons. The City has also retained a local outside planner to review the comprehensive plan.
BSAFE Bonita, Inc. has retained an attorney to represent the residents of Bonita Springs and of course we need your financial support to continue this fight. If you have not donated in the past, please consider it now. If you have sent money before, we thank you for your support and ask that you donate again if possible. Your continued support is the only way we can fight against this shelter location and protect both our children and property values.
