To the editor:

Thank you for publishing Don Bacon’s excellent and informative letters (Nov 29, 2023, and Jan 3, 2024, issues of the Island Reporter) concerning the “special law” granted by Lee County commissioners to only one developer — South Seas.

On so many levels the county commissioners’ actions make clear their complete lack of regard not only for the environment but for human safety on Captiva, as well as on Sanibel (imagine hurricane evacuation with the commission-approved four- to five-fold increase in density).

County commissioners approved this special interest increase despite the opposition of 13,600 petitioners, the SanCap Chamber of Commerce, Sanibel City Council, 12 Captiva condominium associations and many other business and environmental organizations.

A four- or five-fold increase in density will far exceed the capacity of the current infrastructure, which is operating at capacity (namely sewer and water). When that happens, the cost of increasing the infrastructure will fall on tax payers in Lee County.

What county residents, land owners and voters should question and remember is what provoked the county commissioners to approve this increased density, while ignoring public safety, the environment and overwhelming public disapproval?

Alida Hilton

Memphis, Tennessee