Alva | WGCU PBS & NPR for Southwest Florida

Festival meant to highlight vanishing country life in eastern Lee County

Eileen Kelley

A group that has been trying to prevent a cookie-cutter style community in the heart of fast-disappearing agricultural land is hosting a festival to show why its worth fighting for.

Government & Politics

Commissioners greenlight massive development in rural Lee County

Eileen Kelley

Neal Properties would like to build close to 1,100 homes on farmland in the north Alva, Olga area

A couple of horse in Alva. Cows not Condos, a phrase spoken by generations of Alva residents who are battling developers who want to change the landscape and their way of life.

Government & Politics

Alva-area zoning issue to be heard at meeting of Lee commissioners

Eileen Kelley

They dotted the rural landscape with signs expressing favoritism of cows over condos. They’ve unsuccessfully attempted to unseat a developer-friendly county commissioner with someone more like-minded -- and they’ve attended public hearings en masse imploring decision makers to hit the pause button on drastic eastward expansion of clusters of homes in rural Lee County.Wednesday residents of Olga and North Alva — many opposed to more development in that area — will get to speak their mind again when the Lee County Board of County Commissioners meets to decide on a zoning application.The meeting begins at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday in the commission chambers in downtown Fort Myers.

Government & Politics

After candidate’s mysterious withdrawal, Lee Commissioner Greenwell faces competition in primary

Anne Geggis/Florida Center for Government Accountability

Amanda Cochran of Alva has tossed her hat in the ring for Lee County Commissioner after another candidate she supported withdrew in a campaign that will see her face off against incumbent commissioner Mike Greenwell in the GOP primary.

Lee County Commissioners voted in favor of bringing water and sewer to the Alva area5-0. Over 3 hours of public comment were given, mostly Alva residents asking the Commissioners to vote down the water and sewer plan. The Alva area has always been deemed some of Lee County’s last rural land. Neal Communities wants to build on 788 acres of land. The proposed development will bring 1,099 homes to the area.

Environment

Fight for Alva to stay rural is on; Neal Communities-1, residents-0

Eileen Kelley

The North Alva and Olga area is the last bastion of rural, agricultural land in Lee County. It's being eyed by developers.

This is the land in question that Neal Communities would like to build on. Cows not Condos, a phrase spoken by generations of Alva residents who are battling developers who want to change the landscape and their way of life.

Government & Politics

Alva is beautiful and bucolic and it's being eyed by developers

Eileen Kelley

It's one of the last remaining truly rural areas in Lee County, but that, like many old relics of Southwest Florida it is threatened.

Public Affairs

Rural Florida residents strike out when their own commissioner pitches a big development

Craig Pittman, Florida Phoenix/Commentary

Rural Florida residents strike out when their own commissioner pitches a big developmentCommentary by Craig Pittman for Florida Phoenix said the ex-ballplayer pulled a fast one on his own constituents, pushing urban sprawl into an area unprepared for it

Volunteers are needed to help planting 15,000 wildflowers and grasses at the W.P. Franklin South Lock and Dam Recreation Area near Alva on National Public Lands Day, Saturday, September 23, from 7:30 a.m. through noon. The plantings will be in an area that was previously a large open field, to provide habitat restoration and educational opportunities for the local community.

Environment

Volunteers needed to plant native wildflowers, grasses at W.P. Franklin South Recreation Area

WGCU Staff

Volunteers are needed to help plant wildflowers and grasses at the W.P. Franklin South Lock and Dam Recreation Area near Alva on National Public Lands Day, Saturday, Sept. 23, from 7:30 a.m. through noon.

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers invites volunteers to plant trees at W.P. Franklin Recreation Area on National Public Lands Day, Sept. 24

Environment

W.P. Franklin Lock to close one day, Jan. 18, for maintenance

WGCU Staff

The W.P. Franklin Lock on the Caloosahatchee River in Alva will be closed for one day to support maintenance on Jan. 18.

Environment

High Levels Of E. Coli In Southwest Florida Waterways

Quincy J Walters

David Williams and Alex Massie sat side by side at W.P. Franklin Lock along the Caloosahatchee River, waiting for something to nibble at their fishing…