Resolution on West Wind Inn passes
After several months, the final touches were put on an agreement for the West Wind Inn to install semi-pervious pavers within the existing sand-shell off-street parking and driveways, with an underground exfiltration system to handle stormwater.
The Planning Commission unanimously agreed to grant Doug Babcock, CEO of Sanibel-Captiva Beach Resorts, his request during a short meeting Tuesday.
Babcock has agreed to submit an annual report on the exfiltration system, and has received permission from the Department of Environmental Protection regarding the pavers, but not yet for the exfiltration system.
Jim Jordan, planning director, said the vegetation plan had not been submitted in time for consideration for purposes of the meeting, but natural resources had gotten them.
It has been a long road for West Wind Inn, it’s initial request in August was continued to Sept. 13 and approved with conditions during that meeting.
In a related matter, during the director’s report at the end of the meeting, commissioner Chuck Ketteman said it may be time for the city council to consider whether the rules related to pavers should be normalized.
“It’s hard to understand why residential should get 100 percent credit, but not commercial, or resort,” Ketteman said. “It’s either 100 percent or it’s not.”
Jordan said the credit for commercial was 50 percent.
In other business, a local bakery, carry-out restaurant received the green light to add outdoor seating to its location at Islander Center on 2407 Periwinkle Way.
Owner Virginia Wagner received a variance that will allow her to have 16 outdoor seating locations rather than the typical 12, located within the minimum frontyard setback.
The problem is the existing building does not conform with 100-foot setback rule, as it was built before Sanibel became a city. The setback is 86 feet. Despite that, the proposed seating will not require additional parking, will complement the restaurant and be associated with the plaza.
“It’s nice to get on your bike and grab a drink. Pedestrians and all-around residents are used to having outdoor seating,” Wagner said. “If I hadn’t gotten a bug in my ear from someone on planning, I wouldn’t have done this.”
Many on the commission praised Wagner for committing to something that has become a Sanibel pastime; getting on your bike and going to have a bite to eat while sitting outdoors.
“I promise to come down and taste the results,” planning commissioner Chuck Ketteman said.
Jordan’s main concern was the arrangement of seating for fire purposes and that there would have to be some kind of setback. He also thought that perhaps a bike rack would be nice. Wagner said there was already one on the premises. Bike racks do not count toward parking limits and have no setback rules.