County board continues its consideration of proposals
The Lee County Commission postponed considering proposed amendments to the Land Development Code and Lee Plan, which include changes for Captiva and the South Seas Island Resort, this week.
At its June 20 meeting, the board voted unanimously 5-0 to continue its consideration of revisions to the Captiva Code within the LDC to its meeting on Sept. 5. As part of the motion, the commission also continued its consideration of changes to the Captiva Community Plan within the Lee Plan that was planned for the Zoning and Comprehensive Plan Amendment on June 21 to the hearing set for Sept. 6.
In addition, it asked staff to separate the island-related proposals from the rest for when it meets again.
The Captiva Community Panel and Captiva Civic Association have briefly summarized the changes that relate to the island and resort within the amendments being proposed by county staffers as:
– Raises the permitted heights on Captiva by 11 feet — allowing the construction of three-story buildings above base flood elevation.
– Exempts South Seas from Captiva’s building height restrictions.
– Eliminates the three-units-per-acre density restrictions inside of South Seas, with no new density restrictions cited to replace them.
– Creates a path for South Seas to plan a new larger development with buildings up to 75 feet high.
According to county staff, the amendments would provide for a uniform measurement of building height, modify development regulations to increase resiliency, and reduce vulnerability to flooding and storm surge — issues that they have identified as constraints for the post-Hurricane Ian rebuilding.
Following the initial agenda items at the opening of the meeting, Vice Chairman Mike Greenwell immediately made a motion for a continuance to Aug. 15 and Aug. 16 before the board even dived into the consent agenda. Commissioner Kevin Ruane seconded it, opening the topic up for discussion.
“I, obviously, am against this,” Ruane, who holds the District 1 seat and represents Sanibel and Captiva, along with the rest of the islands and part of Cape Coral, said. “There’s no secret about it.”
He explained that he believes the process was not handled properly between staff and the islands’ stakeholders in drafting the changes, noting that he realizes he is in the minority on the board.
Ruane added that he would like to see the continuance extended to September, however, to enable himself and any others to meet with the stakeholders and those in his district to gather feedback.
“We talked about resiliency and this is not resiliency,” he said of the amendments.
Greenwell acknowledged Ruane’s request and amended the dates in his motion to Sept. 5 and 6.
Chairman Brian Hamman reported that he did not see their action as a continuance.
“I look at this as really a motion to start over,” he said, explaining that it would be an opportunity to obtain input from all of those involved and make any changes before the commission considers it.
Before the board voted on the motion, it opened up the floor to public comment.
For nearly two hours, about 40 people shared their thoughts. The speakers included Sanibel Mayor Richard Johnson, Vice Mayor Mike Miller and City Councilmembers John Henshaw and Holly Smith; CCP President Jay Brown, Vice President David Mintz and Administrator Ken Gooderham; CCA Executive Director Emily Hess Ankerson and Board Member and Land Use Committee Chair Lisa Riordan; Presidents Council of Associations Chairman Ken Suarez, representing the coalition of 12 homeowner and condo associations within South Seas, and Marina Villas Condominium Association President Bill Finley and Bayside Villas Condominium Association President Thomas Sadlowski; Captiva Island Fire Control District Fire Chief Jeff Pawul; Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation Executive Director James Evans, Environmental Policy Director Matt DePaolis and Coastal Resilience Manager Dr. Carrie Schuman; “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge Associate Executive Director Ann-Marie Wildman; Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife Executive Director Alison Charney Hussey; SanCap Citizens for a Resilient Future Co-chair Bob Moore; Lee County Climate Reality Project co-founder Ariel Hoover; Committee of the Islands President Larry Schopp; SanCap Chamber President and Chief Executive Officer John Lai; Bailey’s General Store and The Island Store co-owner Calli Johnson; and Greater Pine Island Association Vice President Nadine Slimak; along with island residents, a Royal Shell representative and the Sierra Club Calusa Group.
All agreed with postponing the consideration of the amendments, with many noting that they would prefer to see the changes denied outright. Most also said that the changes needed to be reworked.
Timbers Company Chief Executive Officer Greg Spencer, one of the co-owners of South Seas, also spoke during public comment. He shared the resort’s stance and also supported the continuation.
To reach TIFFANY REPECKI / trepecki@breezenewspapers.com, please email