Letters to the Editor: Regarding Donna Fiala’s Coastal Comments

I was both shocked and dismayed to read Donna Fiala's Coastal Comments "...we are hearing more of an outcry from the public about too much building going on and the commissioners must stop it. BUT, the attorneys for the landowners are standing there with lawsuits in their hand"...."you'd better believe our rules were WRITTEN by attorneys so that we can not interfere with property rights. In many/most cases are hands are tied."

So now there are no limits to growth that threatens 1.) our water resources, 2.) our wildlife and environment 3.) our tourist economy that is dependent on sustaining our "paradise"; and 4.) our ability to provide necessary road infrastructure and emergency services to handle it?

First of all, the Collier County Commission is supposed to represent its citizens, and not be afraid to adequately do so. Commissioners have the power to study how growth should be permitted and located based upon the county's ability to provide water, sewage treatment, infrastructure, safety and while ensuring a strong tourist economy. Based on that study (as done in many many other counties,) a growth management plan is developed, and then zoning, rules and regulation are adopted that certainly consider developers rights BUT also are based on our available water resource and cost of providing infrastructure as well as the protection of our economy, our quality of life, and our environment. Often, through this planning effort, commissions give rewards and incentives to direct growth is areas that have the capacity to handle it.

Again, the commission's staff from the planning, conservation, water management, economic development, and wastewater management departments can assist in this necessary effort which is a typical growth management tool for many counties throughout the state and country. Both the developers and our citizens will then have protected rights via an appropriate compromise which is reflected in the growth management plan and associated zoning and rules and regulations. Why is the commission allowing their hands to be "tied" when the county also has lawyers? I suggest that Ms. Fiala stop being scared of lawsuits and start using her staff for a plan and action strategy that allow landowners to have rights but combines those with the rights of our citizens to have clean water, a healthy environment, and continuing strong economy.

Andrea Cooper

Naples