Fort Myers, FL
The "No Street Parking" signs in Stoneybrook continue to be an issue nobody has an answer to. There is no clear reason why they went up. There is no clear understanding who paid for them. There is no clear understanding who will pay the cost to take them down if they have to come down.
What's even more baffling to me is that at a meeting between Stoneybrook board members, Operations Manager Bill Knight and our engineer Tetra-Tech, the engineer didn't have a clear easy-to-explain reason why they were put up and if they were allowed under the Lee County Statute. They are the engineer for God's sake. This is what they do. Why were they not prepared to answer those questions? Are we paying extra for these meetings.
Stoneybrook board member John Jack contends Lee County law states that roads must have one side of the street open for residential parking. The new Stoneybrook signs say NO STREET PARKING. And now nobody knows what to do. You know what the next step will be? A ruling will need to be made by our attorney as to the legality of the signs. Who pays for that?
Jack and David Lethem tried to get the issue placed on the Stoneybrook H.O.A. agenda this week and Board President Margaret Fineberg refused to allow that to happen. Jack put it on. Fineberg took it off. Instead the Stoneybrook H.O.A. spent time discussing fruit gardens and palm trees that people want to put in their backyards.
The residents of both communities deserve an answer about the signs, most importantly, how this kind of government-shoved-down-your-throat sneaks by without the people knowing about it. What they did affects the lives of every resident living in that community, whether you are pro or con the signs. It's clear the correct process was not followed. No process was followed and someone is trying to get away with it. According to District Manager Brian Lamb there is no board resolution that was passed to approve and install the signs. And, one was needed.
There was a time Stoneybrook had to deal with these issues all by themselves, without monopolizing Bill Knights time or having meetings with our engineer. Until the G.S.D. board decided it was a good idea to grow and take over Stoneybrook that is. Sounds like a back door deal was made and nobody wants to admit it.
