by SC Reporter Emilie Alfino

Senior Planner Savannah White presented the Planning Department’s achievements for 2025 via a slide show.

Department News and Achievements

• Principal Planner Kim Ruiz obtained the American Institute of Certified Planners Certificate
• Kicked off the Transportation Master Plan Update with the Steering Committee
• Kicked off the Sanibel Plan Update with the Steering Committee
• Hosted Coffee with the Code
• Kicked off Roots for Resilience private-public partnership fundraiser and completed draft plans for restoration of the Causeway Blvd. corridor
• Director McMichael was a panelist at the Chamber Business luncheon for the discussion “Best Practices for Building Back for Smart Hurricane Recovery.”
• City Council accepts final report for Coastal Florida Recovery and Resiliency Partnership Project (R2P2) with EPA

New Construction Permits

• 17 New Residential Construction Permits Approved
• 8 New Residential Construction Permits Pending Approval
• 4 New Nonresidential Permits Approved
• 5 New Nonresidential Permits Pending Approval

Review Times
The Planning Department has reduced permit review times.

• Permit reviews have been reduced on average from eight calendar days to four calendar days once the permit is in the hands of the Planning Department. Commissioner Colter said he got a permit in five weeks, total, start to finish. Planning Director Paula McMichael said six weeks is a good turnaround for new construction. Colter added that the new system is much more efficient.

• For simple reviews (e.g., accessory permits), the average review time is three calendar days once the permit is in the hands of the Planning Department

13 Long-form Development Permits Approved

• Seawall Waterward Ext., Isabel Drive
• On Island Bike Rental, 975 Rabbit Road
• CHR Riverview, 1517 Periwinkle Way (2)
• Spatini Tea Bar, 1504 Periwinkle Way
• Island Time Wines, 2407 Periwinkle Way
• 86-43 Review, 6408 Pine Avenue
• Canal Dredging, 634 N Yachtsman Dr, Restaurant
• Temporary RV, 315 Periwinkle Way
• Feiner Elevation, 1495 Angel Drive
• Observational Dock, 5809 Sanibel Captiva Road
• Rebel Vegetation Buffer, 2499 Palm Ridge Road
• Spatini Tea Bar Parking and Vegetation Buffer, 1504 Periwinkle Way

10 Ordinances Adopted

• Open Body of Water
• Height Limitation Exception
• Conditional Uses Placement of Fill
• Below Market Rate Housing Density Increase
• Solar And EV Charging
• Front Porches in Town Center
• Living Shoreline
• Reestablishing Nonconforming Use and Structure
• Permitted Uses In D2 Upland Wetland

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