Consultant supports Fishkind's findings

LAKEWOOD RANCH — A third-party consultant hired by the Lakewood Ranch Incorporation Study Committee has deemed the feasibility study prepared by Fishkind & Associates accurate in its analysis and states the assumptions and methodologies used were appropriate.

After nearly two months of study, Dr. Tim Chapin, department chair of Regional and Urban Planning at Florida State University and an expert in growth management, land development and infrastructure financing, concluded Fishkind’s report was valid, according to a report released this week.

“My review of the LWR Incorporation Study and the other documents available online lead me to the conclusion that the work of Fishkind & Associates, Inc., was methodologically sound, employed the best available data and utilized an appropriate set of assumptions,” Chapin wrote in his seven-page report. “The report’s finding that the proposed incorporation of Lakewood Ranch is financially feasible appears to be based on solid empirical evidence. I believe this work to be of a high professional quality, and that it should satisfy the state’s requirements for an incorporation feasibility study should the residents in the community determine this is a course of action they want to pursue.”

The Incorporation Study Committee hired Chapin in mid-October to evaluate Fishkind’s report as well as to look for any deficiencies in it because of continued concern from residents regarding the validity of the report, study committee chairman Tom Thomaides said.

Although study committee members were comfortable with the data, the group decided to pay $2,000 for an independent review to further verify their conclusions.

“We felt having an outside third-party consultant evaluation would give us and residents of Lakewood Ranch an extra comfort level,” Thomaides said. “The bottom line conclusion is (Chapin) is very comfortable with the study. He thinks it was overall done well.”

In his report, Chapin states he used Fishkind’s report as well as documents and background information provided by the Incorporation Study Committee as part of his research but also visited Lakewood Ranch and used other information to reach his conclusions. He states the findings of the report are “wholly my own.”

Chapin writes Fishkind provided “quality, accurate work” and used a fiscal impact model that “surpasses” models used in other parts of the state to assess the financial feasibility of incorporation.

He also notes Fishkind correctly anticipates the near-term sluggishness in the economy — a timing issue raised by many residents at public incorporation discussions.

However, Chapin also notes Fishkind’s analysis, at times, suffers from “poor or insufficient presentation” and also states one minor deficiency would be the consultant’s minimal discussion of alternatives to incorporation despite meeting state statues of that topic.

Incorporation Study Committee members said they are continuing to hold educational meetings with residents, with the next meeting planned for Country Club of Lakewood Ranch and Edgewater residents at 7 p.m., Dec. 20, at Town Hall, 8175 Lakewood Ranch Blvd.

Thomaides said the group intends to conduct a straw poll of residents about incorporation in September 2011.

If the majority of residents respond in favor of the concept, the group will submit a special act — the feasibility study and charter — to the state Legislature for review. If approved, a vote to incorporate likely would occur in June 2012, Thomaides said.

For more information, visit www.lwrdv.com/incorp. Click here to download Chapin's report.

Contact Pam Eubanks at [email protected].