provided to The Santiva Chronicle
Last week, the Sanibel-Captiva Rotary Club welcomed Lisa Riordan from Protect Captiva Coalition. She shared with the club some important information on the land use changes in Lee County.
In the early 1970’s, South Seas Island Resort developers requested that Lee County downzone the property and limit its development potential. Rather than 3,900 units as the county has permitted, South Seas requested only three units per acre, which would result in only 912 units at the resort.
In 2003, South Seas tried to increase the number of units allowed. After much resistance, a Settlement Agreement between the Captiva Civic Association and the county maintained that “the total number of dwelling units on South Seas Resort is limited to 912” and that “no building permits may be issued . . . that will cause that number to be exceeded at any time.”
South Seas Island Resort is trying again to increase the density limit, only this time for an additional 196 condominiums and 435 additional hotel rooms with an increased height of 64 feet.
Enter the Protect Captiva Coalition. This group is fighting to do exactly that, protecting Captiva. Protect Captiva is a coalition of businesses, residents, tourists, and organizations on both Captiva and Sanibel who have come together to oppose this proposal, which would make significant changes to the land use policy in both density and height restrictions.
Sanibel and Captiva are known for their beautiful beaches and natural environments, which are now being threatened by over-construction, which would have devastating effects on the wildlife on land and water. Adding almost three times the density that is there today would do just that.
Riordan first visited Captiva more than 40 years ago and has been a Captiva resident since 2012. Riordan serves on the Board of Directors for the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation and the Charitable Foundation of the Islands. She will serve as CFI’s Chair beginning January 2025.
In 2015, she was invited to join the Board of Governors of the Captiva Civic Association and served as the president for three years before serving as treasurer. She was appointed in 2017 to the Captiva Civic Association Foundation Board of Governors, the fund-raising vehicle of the Civic Association, and continues to serve there as president.
Riordan has been instrumental in organizing the Protect Captiva Coalition as president of the CCA Foundation Board of Governors. The Protect Captiva Coalition was established in June 2023 and includes more than 13,000 residents, organizations, and other individuals who are opposed to this shortsighted plan that will forever change the character and safety of Captiva.
The Sanibel-Captiva Rotary will hold hybrid meetings on Zoom and in person at the Community House, 2173 Periwinkle Way. Doors open at 7:30 a.m., the meeting begins at 8 a.m. For more information about Rotary, visit sanibelrotary.org. All are welcome.
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