Renewal of Certificates of Competency for contractors doing business in unincorporated Lee County begins Aug. 23 and continues through Sept. 30.  After that, late fees increase monthly through March 31, 2011.

Effective Aug. 23, renewals can be done easily online at www.leegov.com/dcd/ContractorLicensing.htm.  Those who must renew in person may do so at the Community Development/Public Works Center, 1500 Monroe St., Fort Myers, in the Permitting Lobby.

For renewals, certificates for Workers’ Compensation and liability insurance must be active and current in our database.  Verify the status of your certificates online at www.lee-county.com/econnect.  Updated insurance certificates can be e-mailed to ContractorLicensing@leegov.com or faxed to (239) 485-8577.

The fee for renewal is $90 for all trades and $100 for general, building and residential contractors.  Journeyman renewal fees are $24.  The fee for voluntary inactive status is $18, and you must complete the Application for Inactive Status Form.  Download it at www.leegov.com/dcd/ContractorLicensing.htm

Make checks payable to the Lee County Board of County Commissioners.

If your certificate of competency is not renewed or placed on voluntary inactive status by March 31, 2011, it will expire.  Renewal of expired certificates requires a new application and approval by the Construction Licensing Board.

Contractor Licenses issued through the State of Florida will expire August 31.  If you have not updated your license through the State, Community Development will not issue permits under your expired license.

In order to issue a permit, we must verify your active license status through the Web site of the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation or by you providing a copy of your license at the time of permitting.  Remember, as always, your worker’s compensation and general liability insurance must be up-to-date and must identify Lee County as an additional certificate holder.

For more information about registering a state license, go to www3.leegov.com/dcd/BuildingServices/Licensing/ReqStateCont.pdf.

Another section of the Ten Mile Canal floodway – this time near Old U.S. 41 – has been revised as a result of a private appeal to the Federal Emergency Management Agency.  The change is effective immediately.  It removes approximately 112 acres from the regulatory floodway.

In August 2008, Lee County adopted new FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM) that expanded floodways designated along the banks of canals, creeks and rivers.  Regulations prohibit the use of fill in these floodways and require an engineer’s No-Impact Certification with permit applications.

These changes affect FIRM panels 12071C0438F, 12071C0439F, 12071C0576F, 12071C0577F.  View details and revised maps at http://www3.leegov.com/dcd3/Floodways.htm.  All revisions to floodways and V Zones in unincorporated Lee County since August 2008 can be viewed at the same Web site.

During August and September, the Planning Division is meeting with Lee County staff to specifically target the sections of the Lee Plan which will be revised as a result of New Horizon 2035, a comprehensive review of the plan.

New Horizon 2035 began with the state-required Evaluation and Appraisal Report of the Lee Plan and will continue with a review of the planning horizon through the year 2035.  Follow updates on the progress of the planning process at www.leegov.com/dcd/ear2011.

Lee County offices, including Department of Community Development operations at 1500 Monroe St. and 1825 Hendry St., Fort Myers, will be closed Monday, Sept. 6 for Labor Day and Thursday, Sept. 9 for a county furlough day.

Zoning and Development Review checklists have been updated through Ordinance 09-23 and can be found online at http://www3.leegov.com/dcd/GeneralInfo/CheckLists.htm

In addition, the following zoning applications have been updated/created as noted:

• Administrative Action (revised to include new Supplement O)

• Administrative Action Supplement O (Modification of Existing 86-36 MH/RV Park Site Plan)

•  Public Hearing (revised to clarify title certification submittal requirements)

Applications are available online at http://www3.leegov.com/dcd/DocsAppsMaps/ZoningApplications.htm

Lee County’s Land Development Code is posted online by Municipal Code at Municode.com.  The link to Lee County’s codes was recently changed to www.municode.com/resources/gateway.aspx?productid=12625.

The Florida Department of Community Affairs will deliver three Objections, Recommendations and Comments reports to Lee County in late August.

The report on the regular 2009/2010 Comprehensive Plan Amendment Cycle is due Friday, Aug. 27. For details, go to www3.leegov.com/dcd/PlanAmendments/PA2009-2010/RA2009-2010.htm.

ORC reports for two proposed developments of regional impact – University Highlands and Florida Gulf Coast Technology and Research Park – are expected Monday, Aug. 30. For details on these DRIs, go to www3.leegov.com/dcd/ComprehensivePlanning/PlanAmendments/DRI.htm.

During July, contractors pulled permits to build 33 single-family houses collectively valued at $7.2 million in unincorporated Lee County.  That compares to 46 permits issued in June and 33 issued in July 2009, according to the Lee County Department of Community Development.

Also in July, permits were issued for 28 multi-family units, all duplexes.  That compares to four in June and eight in July 2009. 

There were 13 permits issued in July for new commercial buildings collectively valued at $1.4 million, compared to $4.9 million in June and $2.1 million in July 2009.  For detailed permit reports, go to http://www3.leegov.com/dcd/Reports/ReportsMain.htm.

Please join us in congratulating these Community Development employees receiving Length of Service awards from Lee Commissioners. For 20 years: Cheryl Bermudez, administration; for 10 years, Anne Burn and Jonbill Moore, inspections, and Paul Cousineau, David Paschall and Raymond Talarico, code enforcement.

Affordable Housing Committee – Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2 p.m., Community Development/Public Works Center, 1500 Monroe St., Fort Myers.

Local Planning Agency – Monday, Aug. 23, 8:30 a.m., Commission Chambers, 2120 Main St., Fort Myers.

Board of County Commissioners – Tuesday, Aug. 24, 5:05 p.m., Commission Chambers, 2120 Main St., Fort Myers; public hearings on proposed amendments to the Land Development Code Chapter 12, duration of approvals for existing mine operations and Chapter 33, Page Park Community Plan implementation.

Executive Regulatory Oversight Committee – Wednesday, Sept. 8, 2 p.m., Community Development/Public Works Center, 1500 Monroe St., Fort Myers.

Land Development Code Advisory Committee – Friday, Sept. 10, 8 a.m., Community Development/Public Works Center, 1500 Monroe St., Fort Myers.

For a detailed calendar go to www.lee-county.com/gov/dept/dcdcal/Lists/DCD%20Calendar/calendar.aspx.

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