Q. Will protectFMB endorse candidates?
A. No. ProtectFMB has no political affiliations and will neither endorse or oppose a candidate for public office.
Q. How did ProtectFMB start?
A. Many expressed outrage after the unprecedented approval of the 250’ group of condo towers adjacent to a low lying residential neighborhood. Residents and property owners from the adjacent Shell Mound neighborhood met at the site, and from that meeting a subgroup moved to organize and became the initial board for ProtectFMB.
Q. I don’t live near the Seagate project, why should I get involved?
A. There are over a dozen of properties throughout the island that could become new, dense towers. No neighborhood is safe.
Q. What is your legal strategy.
A. We are limited to what we will make public for strategic reasons.
Q. What happens with donations if ProtectFMB disbands?
A. As stated in our bylaws, any residual funds will be donated to a local 501(c)3 charitable organization.
Q. Are donations tax deductible?
A. Not yet. ProtectFMB is working towards registration as a tax-exempt entity.
Q. Who is ProtectFMB?
A. The founding board is made up of island residents, most from the Shell Mound neighborhood. They are Tom Brady, Greg Scasny, Bill Veach and Laurie Webster.
Q. How can I help?
A. Join, Donate, and and/or volunteer. We know that many on FMB are still suffering financially from the great parade of hurricanes, but you can still help us protect FMB. We will be forming committees for tasks like outreach, fund raising, and other constructive tasks. If you have some skills that you think might help the cause, please let us know.
Q. Can I become a member?
A. Everyone is invited to join our mailing list to stay in the loop.
Q. What is Responsible Development?
A. We are calling responsible development as development that is within the vision of the Comprehensive Plan, Land Development Codes and Town Charter, does not further overtax our infrastructure and environment, and does come at the expense of others. It is also used internationally as development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs, or Responsible development as a commitment to creating a better world for the long term. It involves practices that are environmentally friendly, economically sustainable, and socially just.
Q. Is protectFMB anti-development?
A. Protect FMB is definitely not anti-development. We are very much in favor of Responsible Development.
Q. What is your position of public benefit?
A. Public Benefit is part of our code. Defining public benefit has proven to be difficult. (Even for people who helped put it in the code.) We believe that any public benefit used to justify a project should be proportional to the benefit to the developer.
Q. Will the island go broke without big development?
A. Development doesn’t need to be big to benefit the island, and bigger developments take longer to build and longer to realize additional tax revenue.
Q. Without big development will the island ever come back?
A. We believe the island has never left. Life on FMB lives in the hearts of its residents, visitors and small businesses. Houses are being built throughout the island. Condos are reopening. Businesses are reopening. Our recovery is gaining steam without out of scale developments.
Q. Won’t big development keep my taxes from going up?
A. The county accessor expects the island to be at pre Ian property tax revenue in a year or two, and then go up even without over development.
Q. My neighbor says these fights never win.
A. Captiva is having success litigating against big developers, but it takes a concerted effort.