Editorial: Update on another north-south route between Naples, Fort Myers starts the week ahead
A progress report on another way to get from Naples to Fort Myers starts the week ahead.
Lee County Department of Transportation planners will host a public forum at 4:30 p.m. today at Riverside Church, 8660 Daniels Parkway in Fort Myers.
The subject will be progress on the Three Oaks Parkway extension, which is under construction.
Once completed around 2026, the road will serve as the northern segment of a route starting at Radio Road in East Naples, taking Livingston Road to the Lee County line where it becomes Imperial Parkway then following Imperial Parkway to the point it is called Three Oaks Parkway.
The road will offer an alternative to Interstate 75 and U.S. 41, which are congested during peak hours in the winter season.
The meeting is an opportunity for the public to review and comment on the status of the project. The meeting is an open house format and the public is welcome to drop-in at any time. There will be no formal presentation. Lee County DOT staff and project representatives will be available to answer questions.
On Tuesday, Collier County commissioners will meet at 9 a.m. at the government center, 3299 U.S. 41 East in East Naples.
On the agenda are revisions to the county’s hearing examiner process that would, among other things, add a code of conduct for the hearing examiner specifying that he or she should refrain from inappropriate political activity and avoid impropriety and the appearance of impropriety.
Also up for consideration is approval of an interlocal agreement with the City of Naples for stormwater and sewer improvements in the area between U.S. 41 and Goodlette-Frank Road bounded by Pine Ridge Road on the north and Golden Gate Parkway on the south.
The area is prone to flooding and many homes in it are served by septic tanks.
In phases, the city and county plan to connect the homes to a central sewer system and provide homeowners with options to pay for the work.
Phase One of the project is already under construction. The item on Tuesday’s agenda is for Phase Two and includes work in four neighborhoods south of Pine Ridge Road.
Drainage and water quality are priority issues emerging in the races for Naples City Council and mayor and are sure to come up at a candidate’s forum Tuesday coordinated by the League of Women Voters.
The event begins at 4 p.m. at City Hall with two candidates for mayor, incumbent Bill Barnett and challenger Teresa Heitmann, taking the stage.
At 5:30 p.m. six candidates vying for three council seats will have their chance to speak to voters.
Incumbents running to stay in office are Reg Buxton, Michelle McLeod and Ellen Seigel. Challengers are Ted Blankenship, Michael McCabe and Paul Perry.
The city election as well as the presidential preference primary is March 17. The deadline for voter registration in Feb. 18.
(Brent Batten wrote this for the Naples Daily News editorial board).