by SC Reporter Emilie Alfino
Community Housing & Resources previously requested that the City Council grant a temporary waiver to allow Lee County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) stationed on Sanibel to use a CHR-owned building on city-owned land on Whitehall Road.
The waiver is necessary because the terms of CHR’s lease of the land require the property to be used solely for the purposes of providing Below Market Rate Housing (BMRH) for its clients.
“The purpose of this request is to support continued emergency medical coverage during the demolition and reconstruction of Station House No. 171, an estimated two-year project,” CHR Executive Director Nicole McHale wrote in her letter to the city council.
“Allowing EMS to operate temporarily from this site would provide a clear public benefit by ensuring that emergency response times remain fast and effective throughout the construction period,” said McHale.
In its resolution, which passed unanimously, the City Council directed that the affected neighborhood be notified and included a provision for a review of the operations six months after approval.
To protect the character of the surrounding residential neighborhood, Lee County EMS personnel have agreed to operate their equipment at the subject property without the use of sirens or emergency lights within the residential area, except in cases of urgent necessity.
Vice Mayor Holly Smith said, “This is a short-term inconvenience for a long-term goal.”
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