Updates

We now believe that the Rauschenberg Foundation has sold its 22 acres of property on Captiva to South Seas – rejecting the efforts of the Captiva Island Fire Control District and the Captiva community to honor Bob Rauschenberg’s legacy by purchasing and preserving as much as the property as possible for the community and in […]

On Thursday, Feb. 5, at 5 p.m., the Captiva Civic Association is sponsoring a silent auction of art generously donated by local artists to raise funds in support of Protect Captiva. The auction will be held at the Civic Center and online, with all proceeds going to the Protect Captiva Legal Fund. There will be food, drink, and music along […]

With 2025 coming to a close, the legal efforts to Protect Captiva are coming to a head. As detailed in our last Legal Update, the Captiva community is front and center in four legal proceedings – each of which will soon be decided after oral arguments, further motions and final briefs. So far, $1.5 million has been […]

In an unprecedented display of unity, the Captiva community filed a Petition for Writ of Certiorari asking the Court to nullify the rezoning of South Seas that was approved by the Board of County Commissioners on August 6th. The Petition was collectively filed by CCA, RLR Investments and Royal Shell Vacations, 12 separate South Seas […]

All the briefs are filed and we’re also waiting for the Appellate Court to schedule oral argument in this case. As discussed in prior Legal Updates, the Judge in the DOAH was wrong in deciding that the Land Development Code amendments which exempted South Seas from Captiva’s hotel density and building height limits were consistent with […]

When the County approved the rezoning of South Seas, it was likely that Timbers Resorts and its partners would seek building permits before the Appellate Court could decide whether the Circuit Court’s judgment enforcing the 2003 Mediated Settlement Agreement between CCA and County would be upheld or reversed. The Settlement Agreement prohibits the County from […]

As you can see, the legal work necessary to protect Captiva continues in earnest. Rarely has a community so willingly come together to defend itself. And our community has received and continues to deserve the best legal representation. More than $1.5 million has been raised for the Protect Captiva legal fund from more than 1600 donors. We’ve received donations […]

What will happen at South Seas is out of the County’s hands. It’s now in the hands of the Courts, where the cozy relationship between the new owners of the Resort and the County should play no part. The County, which is running a deficit, seems willing to sacrifice the islands of Captiva and Sanibel, and the […]

Everyone’s generous support is working to Protect Captiva. We believe that South Seas and the County will not succeed in reversing the Circuit Court decision limiting density on South Seas to 912 units. And we continue with our other important appeals to maintain the historic densities and building heights on Captiva. The Captiva and Sanibel communities, as well […]

In an entirely predictable vote of 3 to 1, the Board of County Commissioners yesterday approved the South Seas rezoning application. They did so based seemingly upon a single reason – increased development on South Seas will provide jobs and economic growth for Lee County. There was no concern for the current or future residents of Captiva […]