‘Never let a crisis go to waste’?
To the editor:
A cynical expression, it conveys the sad political fact that during a crisis — and especially the aftermath of a disaster — undesirable public policies can be pushed through. People are pre-occupied with putting their lives back together, giving political predators a window of opportunity.
That is what the Timbers Company is attempting at the South Seas Island Resort on Captiva. There is no reason — other than opportunism — to respond to Hurricane Ian by relaxing land-use regulations to build back bigger, denser and taller. On the contrary, to avoid another obliteration, building standards should be strengthened: greater armoring of all structural and exterior elements, from foundations to rooftops. And wherever possible, structures should have first-story pass-throughs to withstand the inevitable storm surge.
Timbers also plans not to rebuild the resort’s employee housing, a move that would endanger public safety. On-site resort employees have proven themselves to be the best-trained, most responsible and available human resource to assist guests and residents in the event of any calamity. Relegating resort employees to a lengthy, expensive commute doesn’t just congest daily traffic along a perpetually clogged artery, it is a recipe for disaster in a crisis. Timbers should not be able to decide unilaterally to eliminate employee housing, a change in land use with negative social consequences. Instead, Lee County should exercise its public authority and require Timbers to rebuild employee housing to the same stricter standards as all other structures.
We will have more direct-hit storms, perhaps even stronger than Ian. South Seas will survive those blasts only if the county requires the exact opposite of what Timbers proposes, ensuring a rebuild that is stronger, smarter and safer.
Don Bacon
Montara, California