County Planners Face Busy Times
I was
wrong when I told Deanna that Miami-Dade County has 48 high schools,
when in fact they only have 39. They do have 55 middle schools,
though, and 210 elementary schools. Deanna is a fire/EMS
specialist with Charlotte County, and we were casually discussing the
growth of Charlotte County and the need for future schools and
fire/EMS stations. Will Charlotte County ever
reach the population that requires as many schools and fire/EMS
stations as Miami? Even the high-growth areas of the state will be
hard pressed to match the phenomenal past population growth of
Florida's lower East Coast. However, we are growing here, as well. It
isn't just retirees corning to our area.
With
the outside structure of the new 880,000-square-foot Wal-Mart
distribution center in DeSoto County, adjacent to the
DeSoto/Charlotte County line, nearing completion, the immense size of
the center becomes obvious. The structure has over 20 acres
under roof and will feature a fully automated cold-storage facility.
According to original figures from Wal-Mart spokesperson John Hay,
the number of employees is expected to be over 600, almost all of
them full-time.
While
both counties will benefit from the arrival of the new center,
Charlotte County's gain will be indirect. While many residents from
our area may find employment at the new center, many Wal-Mart people
will relocate here from other assignments. The gravity of the center
will pull in not only needed new housing, but also the retail and
support services to support the hundreds of new employees.
The
desirable residential properties near Prairie Creek and the area
around Washington Loop Road are already experiencing increased
queries about availability. Whether or not all of the increase in
activity is due to the soon-to-arrive Wal-Mart employees is a matter
of opinion, but the area is bound to show growth in the near future.
The Peace River area of eastern Charlotte County may indeed be a
growth area to rival other areas of the county.
The
area east of 1-75 and north of County Road 31, near Prairie Creek and
Washington Loop Road, is proving to be of interest to not only
residential buyers, but commercial developers as well. Most of the
area is now zoned for farming, citrus groves or five-acre ranchettes,
rather than pre-platted, 10,000 square-foot lots like those in
northern or western Charlotte County.
This, in itself, lends to
the gated -community style of growth, where larger
tracts of available land offer flexible interpretation of community
growth. With access to 1-75 via the almost-finished, four-lane,
divided U.S. 17, the international airport at Fort Myers is just a
45-minute drive. The zoned industrial complex at the Charlotte County
Airport overlay district is just minutes away from the area.
Charlotte
County planners will have a very busy future. We may never need 39
high schools, but I'm sure that is something that never crossed the
minds of Dade County planners 60 years ago.
George Mindling ©
2000
