by SC Reporter Emilie Alfino
At its July 30, 2024, meeting City Council authorized legislation that would temporarily allow qualifying Sanibel resort properties to issue beach club day passes. City Council acknowledged that much of the resort housing district is still recovering from Hurricane Ian, which has resulted in reduced access to the beach for human activities, and therefore wishes to temporarily allow day membership or a fee for daily use of the beach for a limited time period through the issuance of a temporary use permit (TUP).
“I support this measure,” said Vice Mayor Mike Miller. “I think it will provide support to the businesses on the island that qualify and maybe some favorable carryover affecting the other businesses on the island.”
Miller acknowledged that there are some citizens who have expressed concern about the impact on the beaches but that the conditions built into the resolution will sufficiently ameliorate those concerns.
Committee of the Islands (COTI) suggested that the program be evaluated after six months but otherwise supported the measure. Miller added that stipulation to his motion to approve the temporary program.
Council by a 4-0 vote, with Council member John Henshaw absent, voted that such TUP allowing a day membership or fee for daily use of the beach is hereby established, subject to 15 conditions, including but not limited to the following:
1. The temporary use permit (TUP) for Beach Club Day Passes is available only to businesses operating lawfully within the resort housing district and licensed by the Florida Department of Business & Professional Regulation (FDBPR) as a hotel or motel.
2. One pass is to be sold to one individual.
3. The day passes are intended to replace resort housing dwelling units unavailable to rent due to reconstruction or repairs post-storm.
4. A TUP must be obtained through the Planning Department. No fee will be required for this permit.
5. A site plan and narrative explanation must be provided demonstrating that the resort has permanent staffing, parking, and permanent restroom facilities. The property must also demonstrate that it is expected to have resort housing dwelling units available for rent within six months.
6. Sales of day passes per resort shall be limited to the lesser of the following: (a) two passes per available on-site parking space; or (b) two-and-a-half times the number of resort housing dwelling units currently unavailable to be rented.
7. Each permit holder must report monthly to the Planning Department the number of day passes sold.
8. No new uses are approved by the issuance of the TUP.
9. No new permanent structures will be permitted.
10. A TUP will be subject to any other conditions deemed necessary by the city manager to protect the carrying capacity of the beach.
11. All TUPs issued will expire six months from the date of issuance. For good cause shown, a property may request a three-month extension from the Planning Department.
Sanibel hotels or motels registered with DBPR as of July 24, which would be eligible for this temporary program, include:
Seaside Inn, Song of the Sea Motel, Sanibel Inn, Holiday Inn, Sundial, Shalimar, Island Inn, Sanibel Sunset Beach Resort, Beachview Cottages, and West Wind Inn.