Archives for Summer 2023

OUTLOOK NEWSLETTER ( Summer 2023 )

KEVIN WINTER, PE – LONG TIME LOCAL ENGINEER RETIRES AFTER 36 YEARS OF DEDICATED SERVICE

If you live in Lee County, Florida, have vacationed here, or driven through, you more than likely have visited or seen many facilities where Kevin Winter was the Engineer of Record throughout the last three decades of his career.

Kevin moved to Fort Myers in 1986 shortly after he received his BSCE and MBA from the University of Iowa. Being an avid golfer, he always had his sights on moving to the Southeast due to booming golf course development throughout the region. Originally wanting to work for a golf course developer, he never expected after accepting the position with Johnson Engineering, that it would lead to a 36-year career with the company.

Kevin was fortunate to have worked with and been mentored by three former company presidents: Forrest Banks, PE; Steve Morrison, PE; and the late Archie Grant, PE, PSM. The three were ambitious well-known experts in their respective fields and trained Kevin early in his career about responsibility to your community, to be true to your values, and to uphold ethical principles and high standards on every project. This became evident in Kevin’s successful collection of signature projects and longevity with the company.

In 1989 he earned his Professional Engineering license and became a partner of the firm in 1992. His responsibilities focused on all phases of development, utility, drainage, and road design. Throughout the 1980s/90s the area was booming with new development. Kevin was the engineer of record, or part of the design team, for nearly every major golf course community, mall, recreational facility, and airport in Lee County. Below are just a few projects you may recognize…

GOVERNMENTAL/COMMERCIAL PROJECTS: Southwest Florida International Airport, Downtown Fort Myers Waterfront Basin, Luminary Hotel, Pagefield Commons, The Forum Fort Myers, Gulf Coast Town Center, Lee County Libraries, LeeSar Regional Service Center, Edison Mall Expansion

SINGLE/MULTIFAMILY HOUSING & ASSISTED LIVING PROJECTS: Bonita Bay, Verandah, Shadow Wood Preserve, Fort Myers County Club, Eastwood Golf Course, Fiddlesticks, Shell Point, West Bay Club, Coral Oaks, Cypress Lake County Club RECREATIONAL: Minnesota Twins Spring Training Facility-Hammond Stadium/Lee County Sports Complex, Boston Red Sox Spring Training Facility – JetBlue Park at Fenway South

RECREATIONAL: Minnesota Twins Spring Training Facility-Hammond Stadium/Lee County Sports Complex, Boston Red Sox Spring Training Facility – JetBlue Park at Fenway South

In the early 2000s Kevin was named Director of the company’s Land Development group and in 2011 he became Chairman of the Board of Directors. Kevin spearheaded the Board’s efforts to develop a strategic plan to renew the company’s goals and methods of operation. Client satisfaction was always his utmost priority.

We wish Kevin well in his retirement and hope he gets to spend as many days on the golf course as he did designing them throughout his 36 years! We are honored to have had him as a part of our team.

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BURNT STORE ROAD WIDENING TO HELP ALLEVIATE TRAFFIC FOR CRUCIAL EVACUATION ROUTE

Johnson Engineering completed the design for the widening of Burnt Store Road in Cape Coral from 2-lanes to 4-lanes, from Pine Island Road (SR 78) to NW 5th Terrace. This segment of roadway was designed to be expandable to a future 6-lane roadway and serves as a hurricane evacuation route. Construction of the roadway was recently completed, and a ribbon cutting was hosted by the City of Cape Coral and Lee County on April 27, 2023.

Our team provided the roadway and drainage design for the corridor, along with all associated permitting. In addition, we provided street lighting and landscaping design for a portion of the roadway from Pine Island Road (SR 78) to Delilah Drive, along with signal improvements at the intersection of Pine Island Road to accommodate new turn lanes. The project also included one mainline bridge which provides pedestrian access underneath the roadway.

For more information contact Ryan Bell at [email protected].

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WHAT IS THE LIVE LOCAL ACT?

On March 29, 2023, the Governor signed the Live Local Act (SB 102) into law, representing the largest housing affordability investment in Florida history. Over $711 million is appropriated for affordable and workforce housing initiatives, downpayment assistance, and tax credit programs. Besides funding, the law eases regulation in the hopes it will spur development of affordable housing in commercial and industrial zoning districts, near workplaces.

Local jurisdictions are now preempted on certain land use and zoning decisions regarding affordable housing. Cities and counties can no longer enact rent control measures, and administrative approval must be granted for multi-family and mixed- use developments in commercial, mixed use, and industrial zoning districts when the development commits to affordability of some units for at least 30 years. Specifically, a residential or mixed-use development with at least 40% of its units rented to households earning up to 120% of the Area Median Income meets the affordability criteria. Such projects are eligible for:

  • administrative approval-without public hearings;
  • allowable density is the maximum density allowed on any land where residential development is permitted in the jurisdiction;
  • reduced parking requirements must be considered if within one-half mile of a major transit stop; and
  • allowable height is the maximum height allowed for residential or commercial development in the jurisdiction within one mile of the project site, or three stories, whichever is greater.

The Live Local Act becomes effective on July 1, 2023, and it expires on October 1, 2033. Our professional planning team is helping communities adapt to these new policies by preparing standards and guidelines for neighborhood-scaled affordable and mixed use housing models. These criteria will promote compatibility, walkability, and urban design where housing is introduced to traditionally commercialized areas.

For more information contact Chrissy Fisher, AICP at [email protected].

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TERM ROTATION BRINGS ON NEW JOHNSON ENGINEERING BOARD MEMBERS

At the most recent company stockholders meeting, Laura Brady Herrero, CE; Laura DeJohn, AICP; and David Trouteaud, PE, were elected to the company’s Board of Directors to each serve three-year terms.

In 2011, Johnson Engineering adopted a policy to have staggered terms for the board of directors, rotating members on and off in three-year terms, in order to maintain an effective Board over the lifetime of the company. This system helps maintain a healthy duality of experience and brings fresh ideas. These three will be joining the existing board members President/Director Lonnie Howard, PE; Chairman of the Board/Vice-President – Engineering, Michael Dickey, PE; Vice President – Surveying & Mapping, Matthew Howard, PSM.; Vice President – Engineering, Ryan Bell, PE, PTOE.

For more information contact (239) 334-0046 or [email protected].

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