On Feb. 20, 21, 26, 28, and March 20 and 21, the Hearing Examiner in the South Seas rezoning case heard from Captiva Civic Association’s (CCA) attorney and expert witnesses, from representatives of the majority of South Seas property owners and attorneys opposing the application, from the Captiva Community Panel, from SCCF, from Sanibel’s Mayor and Councilmembers, its City Manager, Deputy Police Chief, and City Attorney, and concerned citizens from both Captiva and Sanibel — all explaining why increased density and building heights on South Seas should not be approved. Each of the hearing days should be available to watch by date on YouTube.
The evidence and legal arguments against the rezoning were strong. The increase in density from 272 units to 628 units on the applicant’s 120-acres of property (causing a total increase from the allowable 912 units on the resort to 1,268 units) — along with increased building heights — would violate the density and intensity limits of the Lee Plan, would increase the already crisis-level traffic congestion and threaten public safety during hurricanes and medical emergencies, and would create untold environmental damage. CCA’s attorney summarized the community’s objections in his comprehensive legal analysis provided to the Hearing Examiner. The attorney’s legal analysis can be read here.
South Seas and Lee County will present their rebuttal case in April and then the Hearing Examiner can be expected to take two to three months to issue a recommended decision to the Board of County Commissioners. The Commissioners will then decide to accept, reject, or modify the recommendation during a public hearing.