Protect Captiva: South Seas hearing continues
A coalition seeking to maintain the longtime building height and density limitations on Captiva recently provided an update on its legal actions.
Last week, Protect Captiva reported that the hearing to consider South Seas’ rezoning applications to build 435 hotel units and 193 two- to four-bedroom condominiums will continue on March 20-21.
On Feb. 20-21, 26 and 28, the Hearing Examiner handling the rezoning case heard from the Captiva Civic Association’s (CCA) expert witnesses, resort property owners and attorneys, the Captiva Community Panel, Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF), Sanibel City Councilmembers, City Manager Dana Souza and Sanibel Police Department Deputy Chief Anthony Thompson.
“All explaining why increased density and building heights on South Seas should not be approved,” the coalition shared on March 6.
“The Hearing Examiner heard about Captiva’s historic development pattern and the strict 912-unit cap, the traffic congestion and why it cannot be made worse, the public safety issues related to increased hurricane evacuation times, and the environmental damage resulting from increased density and building heights,” it added.
On March 20, the hearing will start at 9 a.m. in the chambers of the Lee County Board of County Commissioners in Fort Myers. The CCA’s attorney will start the day, with additional witnesses from the public having the opportunity to speak and provide comments.
“It is important for Captiva and Sanibel residents to attend on Thursday to have their voices heard. It’s our time to speak out,” Protect Captiva shared. “The Hearing Examiner needs to see and hear that our communities strongly oppose the efforts by South Seas to increase density and building heights.”
The coalition reported that witnesses can make their own statement or simply state their name and address and that they oppose the rezoning applications for the reasons stated by the CCA and Captiva Community Panel.
Each day of the hearing is available to view on YouTube at @LeeCountyFLBOCC.
The commission chambers are at 2120 Main St., Fort Myers.