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Pfeifer Fellow Examines Sanibel Plan in Post-Ian Times
In a recent and historically relevant article published by Florida Humanities, Inaugural SCCF Pfeifer Fellow Thomas Ankersen delves deep into the legendary Sanibel Plan being born at a time of “rising environmental awareness and scientific data” and questions if post-Hurricane Ian is an opportune time to revisit it.
He also explores the back story of the land-use plan that puts ecology at the center of all policy. It was a time when development decisions on the islands were at the mercy of the pro-growth Lee County Commission.
“In 1968, county planners recommended Sanibel for high-intensity urban development and a four-lane expressway. The county’s zoning would have allowed 30,000 residential units on the island, resulting in an estimated population of 90,000,” he writes.
This article was originally published in the Summer 2023 issue of FORUM, the magazine of Florida Humanities. It is shared on this website with permission from Florida Humanities. www.floridahumanities.com
