County commission denies Eden Oak rezoning request
The Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation reported that opponents of Eden Oak won a hard-fought victory on April 5 when the Lee County Board of County Commissioners unanimously denied a request to rezone coastal wetlands for a housing development.
Officials reported that the decision came after more than seven years of work and dedication by members of the community and the SCCF who voiced concerns and provided scientific evidence of the project’s environmental impacts.
“We commend the Lee County Commission for their leadership in denying this zoning request,” SCCF Chief Executive Officer James Evans said. “If approved, this project would have had extensive impacts on mangrove wetlands, water quality, and critical wildlife habitat, and would have put more Lee County residents in harm’s way during the next storm.”
The commissioners denied the applicant’s request for rezoning after numerous members of the community voiced opposition to the project proposed off of Shell Point Boulevard in Fort Myers.
“This is a great day for Lee County,” SCCF Environmental Policy Director Matt DePaolis said. “The commissioners heard the concerns of the community and made the right decision.”
Attorney Richard Grosso, who represented the SCCF at the final hearing on April 5, reminded the commission of its role.
“It’s only this board that has the responsibility and the legal authority to look at everything. The environment, the hurricanes, the public safety,” he said. “You are the only entity in the world who has the authority to make that decision.”
Residents of properties adjacent to the proposed development spoke about their experiences in Hurricane Ian, including former SCCF Trustee Paul Roth who described the difference that living by the mangroves made with storm surge.
“We did not leave our home during the storm and therefore we were eyewitnesses to the impacts of raging water driven by 150 mph winds,” Roth said. “We watched a 4-foot wall of water surge down Caleb Drive … reaching just to the thresholds of our doors. And with only a slight amount of water trickling in, we escaped with very little damage except in the garage.”
“That’s what happened,” he added. “What did not happen was the surge of water rising up from the Eden Oak tract to the rear of our house. And I’m convinced that the mangrove area setting some feet below our lot saved us from serious flood damage.”
In introducing the motion to dismiss the request, Commissioner Kevin Ruane lauded the role of mangroves.
“The mangroves did exactly what they were intended to do. And with that in mind, my motion is for a complete denial,” he said.
All commissioners voted in favor of the motion. Officials reported that the decision was made with prejudice, which prevents the applicant from resubmitting a similar rezoning application for one year.
“SCCF applauds the commissioners for the courage to support smart growth in Lee County and thanks all members of the community who participated in this process over the last seven years and made their voices heard,” DePaolis said.
For more information, visit https://www.sccf.org/our-work/environmental-policy/eden-oak.