Hill sees planning vacancies as opportunity

LAKEWOOD RANCH — Meeting after meeting on the morning of Sept. 18, Lakewood Ranch resident Jim Hill rose to the podium, telling each Community Development District board there are two vacancies on the Manatee County Planning Commission and urging East County residents to apply.

At each meeting, he heard the same response over and over: “Why don’t you apply?”

So after much thought and consideration, that’s what Hill did.

“Lakewood Ranch is in the midst of major growth, the highest growth in the country,” Hill said. “We need to manage that growth, and I’m confident the two new appointees on the planning commission, whomever they may be, will contribute to managing that to their very best ability.”

The catalyst for Hill’s plea at the CDD meetings and his decision to apply for one of the two seats himself was an application by Schroeder-Manatee Ranch to make changes to its University Lakes Development of Regional Impact. SMR requested raising construction of a Lakewood Ranch Main Street parcel from five stories to seven.

The planning commission didn’t recommend the revised application, and Manatee County Board of County Commissioners will decide on the application at its Oct. 2 land-use meeting in Bradenton.

The issue, though, spurred Hill to realize the planning board should have some Ranch representation.

“We have an issue and it’s right here in our front yard,” Hill said. “It’s a complex one, and there will be more issues like this one coming before the board. It’s logical to have local representation on that commission.”

Local community service is not new to Hill, who is the vice chairman of Lakewood Ranch Community Development District 6 and a past commissioner on the planning commission in Birmingham Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania.

Hill said he’s always felt a calling to be involved in the community where he lives.

In suburban Delaware in 1970, when there was property designated for a community park, Hill was a member of the local civic committee and got an appointment to the park committee.

“My young daughters at the time had opinions about the park, and I was involved in helping to choose the playground equipment and making that park happen,” Hill said. “We wanted a park there and I wanted to be involved.”

Hill said his wife, Mary Nell, moved their family 23 times over the years as Hill accepted career opportunities.

“Wherever we moved, I felt the need to bring my energy and work experience to that community,” Hill said.
That willingness to serve hasn’t slowed in retirement.

The Hills chose Lakewood Ranch as their retirement home three years ago, and Hill said retirement for him lasted only nine months.

“I spent those months learning about the marvelous cultural and recreational activities in the Sarasota-Manatee area,” Hill said.

But in September 2012, Hill walked into Lakewood Ranch Town Hall and submitted an application to serve on the CDD 6 board. By December 2012, he was on the board. Hill learned as much as he could about the seven nehighborhoods that make up his district as his community transferred from development control to property owner control.

With the knowledge of the issues surrounding Lakewood Ranch, Hill said he’s ready to serve Manatee County now on the planning commission if the county commission approves his appointment.

Appointments could be approved Nov. 6.

“The Lakewood Ranch area is the No. 1 growth area in the entire metropolitan area,” Hill said. “I have the energy and drive to be of service to my community and I hope residents support my candidacy and advise all seven commissioners that I deserve consideration.”

Jim Hill
Age: 70

Hometown: Birmingham, Ala.

Family: Wife: Mary Nell of 51 years; two daughters; and two grandchildren.

Former occupation: Retired chemist and businessman; held multiple senior worldwide management positions for The DuPont Co. in the specialty materials business for 26 years.

Hobbies: Nature, outdoors, traveling and an avid crossword puzzle enthusiast (ink only).

Interesting fact: Hill said his education was influenced by Russia entering the first object, Sputnik, into space. Said Hill: “That was an awakening to the American psyche. That very event impacted the lives of many of us. I am a space-aged trainee.”