EDITOR’S NOTE: The Santiva Chronicle publishes opinions and letters on topics that are important to Sanibel and Captiva. They may be submitted via e-mail at news@santivachronicle.com.
by Vincent M. Wolanin
37-year full-time Sanibel Island Resident
Concerning the recent letters regarding building height there is more to be concerned about than just that point. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, height restriction is only one of the issues and my opinion is it was “intended consequences” as the height limits should be 3 stories maximum over grade with a height limit of 50 feet to roof peak. That hurts no one, and would allow the construction of modern, reinforced buildings which would not become obsolete hurricane risk relics come the next storm.
Among many other issues, here are some that do nothing for the public good, yet damage the taxpaying property owners affected by these punitive rules:
Angle of light nonsense, if a resident meets sideline and height that should not be a requirement as no one is building a high rise. This robs people of use of their property.
Compatibility issues on what a home looks like subject to abuse of discretion. Who wants to live in a place or invest in a place subject to the whims of the Sanibel Staff? Are we running a beauty contest in the permit process where all homes have to look alike? This robs property owners of a unique design, which they have every right to. Seems to me freedom of expression aka speech is on the line as well.
Hiring engineers to create a drainage plan on lands where the percolation rate is so high there is no standing water anywhere except on the paved roads. Money wasted for no purpose at all. If anything a property owner should be able to do a simple percolation test to prove the land percolates and not be required to engineer something that is a waste of time and money.
Sod required in the road right of way when this is supposed to be an island concerned with conservation of water?? Grass requires extensive watering to stay alive. Who dreamed up this ridiculous requirement and how are they at all considering The Sanibel Plan?
Blower Test: another total waste of money, time, hard to setup, execute, and for all intensive purposes nearly impossible to run always yields imprecise results. This is a money grab by someone who dreamed up a building must be air tight. No one can live in a 100% airtight building, all buildings require make up air. The minute a door opens, a window opens, you turn on an exhaust fan, open a garage, there is air infiltration. If the rated windows, membrane, insulation, doors are installed as designed on the working drawing permitted plans that is all that should be required. The BLOWER TEST should be known as the “light money on fire test” as it proves nothing of value.
I am sure there are even more ridiculous overbearing code requirements that I am not even aware of. I hope other readers will consequently speak up.
Sanibel Residents are entitled to get a HOME they want. No one in their right mind will spend millions of dollars building something where someone else forces unfair compromises or will not issue variances when common sense dictates otherwise.
Humanity should always come first. If we don’t have currently have the code or laws that recognize this, then change has to happen. We have to build stronger buildings that are higher off the ground and consequently taller. Of the hundreds of homes destroyed, how many are already being rebuilt? Take a look around the island. No one ever declared the Sanibel Plan could not have variances issued when there is zero benefit to the public good.
Yes, is my vote to changes that allow for these stronger, taller buildings. Who wants to live in a home or stay in a hotel with 8 foot ceilings on a gorgeous island? No one I know. That makes zero sense. Mr. Lapi should be able to rebuild his hotel at the height he requires to be commercially successful. He nor any of us as resident taxpayers should be penalized. It is really quite simple, issue the variances to anyone who needs them to rebuild now OR maybe the tax base will go so far off the rails the remaining people will pay double
FOLLOW THE CONVERSATION
GUEST COMMENTARY: Unintended Consequences
LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Setting the Record Straight on Building Height
GUEST COMMENTARY: Response to Building Heights
LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Resiliency vs Expansion
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