by SC Reporter Emilie Alfino
Captiva is perhaps looking to leave unincorporated Lee County and become part of the City of Sanibel.
President Jay Brown and Vice President David Mintz of the Captiva Community Panel came before City Council on May 7 to discuss their plan to survey Captiva residents to learn of their interest in possible annexation of Captiva into the City of Sanibel.
The process for the annexation of Captiva by Sanibel would be complex. For example, Florida State Statutes require that the owners of 50 percent of the acreage on Captiva must approve annexation before it may be considered by voter referendum. Therefore, before additional time is dedicated to annexation discussions, the CCP needs to learn if the majority of Captiva property owners support annexation by Sanibel. Hence the proposed survey.
“We’re convinced we cannot rely on Lee County to help Captiva to remain a low-density community,” said Brown. “They prize development much more than the citizens of Captiva. Before looking at options to protect ourselves such as a Captiva Conservation District, which did not have enough support at the state, we have also looked at incorporating. That is very unlikely due to the small size of the community; Captiva has around 1,500 year-round residents. That leaves the possibility of annexing with Sanibel as the most likely step we could take.”
City Council as well as City Manager Dana Souza and City Attorney John Agnew made it very clear that this survey is strictly Captivans doing a survey of Captivans – not Sanibel in any way. Sanibel would not be involved in this effort in any way.
Would annexation even stop Captiva development? “We don’t know,” said Brown.
Annexation would be at least as complicated as incorporation was for Sanibel. Council member John Henshaw said, “This is a significant threat to all of us. I’m not sure Sanibel residents understand what it means.”
Mayor Richard Johnson added, “This is a lot for our community to digest at this point. No direction has been set, no decisions have been made. For now, that’s all this is, a conversation. I’m a little concerned about us engaging with the CCP. The word annexation makes me nervous.”
Council members expressed concern about some assumptions made in the language of the survey and transmittal letter. For example, would Captiva follow the Sanibel Plan, would they get a seat on the Council? The Planning Commission?
Johnson said, “Bear in mind that if you do that survey, you’ll also be surveying the City of Sanibel as well. The emails are already flying. This is all very preliminary. This is a long and extensive process. There are many questions out there and very few answers. We’re impacted by everything that goes on in Captiva.”
“Do your survey,” Johnson continued. “Keep in mind perception is reality. This is one alternative – there are a lot of other things going on for Captiva. We’re still your neighbors and plan to be good neighbors.”
Leave a Comment