Panel to hold land development code workshop on March 24

On Tuesday, the Captiva Community Panel held their monthly meeting, where Max Forgey of Morris-Depew Associates presented an updated draft based on feedback he received at the panel’s last workshop meeting on Feb. 18.
But before Forgey had a chance to discuss the changes with the panel, Theodore Roosevelt reenactor Joe Wiegand addressed the panel and its audience, drawing many laughs and a round of applause.
Wiegand – or, President Roosevelt – returned to ‘Tween Waters Inn for a special presentation at the resort and a guided tour with Captiva Cruises down Roosevelt Channel.
“There’s nothing better than the good work being done here by the Captiva Community [Panel]. I applaud your work,” he said at the meeting. “Good citizens of Captiva, I wish you nothing but victory and the thrill of the battle as you go on towards it.”
What followed was not so much a battle as it was a long but spirited discussion about changes made to the land development code.
Some of the undisputed changes that have been made to the land development code include:
enhancing mangrove protection by denying permits to force restoration of destroyed mangroves
requiring on-site treatment and disposal systems (septic systems) to be maintained by typing inspections to permits
creating a more uniform and fair situation for building heights by ensuring that all owners will be able to construct a two-story, 28-foot-high home, even in areas of the island where FEMA/DEP requirements force structures to be built higher above sea level
encouraging more sloped roofs and more roof articulation, but sets a limit on how high and large such articulation can be
After going through the proposed draft, several members of the panel and the audience proposed minor changes and requested an opportunity for further discussion and clarification concerning certain portions of the new draft.
Due to these requests – which included signage, such as the allowance of sandwich boards, and code language concerning RSC-2 estate zoning – the panel decided to hold an additional workshop session on Wednesday, March 24 at 9 a.m.
The location of the workshop has not been decided, but over the past few months, these land development code workshops have been held at South Seas Island Resort. Panel administrator Ken Gooderham will announce the location of the workshop at a later date.
After the panel has approved a final draft, the next step will be to survey Captiva property owners and then submittal to Lee County.
If you would like to view a copy of the draft without the changes proposed at Tuesday’s meeting, go to www.captivacommunitypanel.com and click on “Captiva Code.”
The next regular panel meeting will take place on Tuesday, April 13, at 9 a.m. in the Wakefield Room at ‘Tween Waters Inn.