The Captiva Community Panel received updates on the Sanibel Causeway and South Seas Island Resort at its recent meeting, as well heard about a wastewater plan for the Rauschenberg Residency.
On March 14, a consultant with the Florida Department of Transportation gave an update on the causeway project, including the concept plans for Islands A and B and proposed resiliency measures. With emergency repairs finished in mid-October following Hurricane Ian, Jennifer Dorning reported that the construction will start in the summer, with an expected completion date set for late 2023.
She explained that the Lee County Commission approved proposed resiliency measures and recreational amenities for the causeway last month. Previously designed amenities — from 2022 — included a bicycle lane, turn lanes, designated parking and other recreational improvements.
As for the causeway’s conceptual design, the permanent repairs entail a 2-foot raised roadway, bike lanes on Islands A and B, structures resiliency (gabion baskets, rip/rap large boulders, sheet pile wall), and seagrass/encouraging mangrove growth. Dorning cited the benefits of mangroves for resiliency.
“We are trying to promote mangrove growth in everything we’re doing,” she said.
Dorning outlined the following current activities:
– Crews continue to work to “armor” the bridge
– Permit plans and application submitted
– Coordinating with local landscape architects and coastal engineers
As for the approximate cost of the project, she reported that it is anticipated to be $285 million, of which the Federal Highway Administration is scheduled to reimburse $239 million. Lee County is set to cover the remaining $46.1 million, with $5.6 million from the county for recreational amenities.
Also during the meeting, Panel Member Bob Walter provided an update on the South Seas Island Resort’s post-hurricane recovery. Regional managing director for the resort, he reported that revetment work has begun along Redfish Pass and he shared the following planned openings as of March 10:
– Late April: Yacht Harbor Marina
– Mid-May: Food trucks to service main beach area
– Late summer: Bayview fishing pier (T dock), with construction to begin on March 30; South Seas Vacation Rentals; and Bayview north pool, including slide pool and Tarpon Bar Club Captiva Beach (Sunset Beach)
– November: Newly designed family-friendly golf course
– Late 2023: Harborside Bar and Grill; and Red Fish Grill
– Early 2024: Bayview pavilion and event lawn; and Harborside Hotel guest rooms and suites
Walter also provided an overview of Captiva Landing, a new water feature planned for the southern end of the property, adjacent to South Seas Village, that will be open to guests and Club Captiva members.
The new amenity complex will feature: Gulf Stream, lazy river for all ages; Camp-tiva, kids-only activity club with nature-focused experiences; Bottlenose Bay, water play area for all ages; The Cove, resort pool; Flippers, arcade and resort casual restaurant; and Bayside Marina, an improved South Marina and launching point for eco-focused tour, watersport and fishing experiences.
He explained that the $20-plus million investment will provide needed activities on the south end, which is expected to reduce overall traffic and may offer more success for the south end rentals.
Taking questions from the CCP and meeting attendees, Walter reported that the resort is considering pickleball options because it believes there is a need. The new water feature will be gated and not open late, so there should not be a noise issue for close units. The resort is planning to bring back the shops and amenities at Chadwick’s Square, and golf carts will not be allowed on the new, walkable course.
Also at the meeting, Panel Member Ann Brady — director of the Rauschenberg Residency — introduced Kendall Baldwin, senior associate at WXY Studio. She explained that Baldwin would be presenting a wastewater plan for the property, a community requirement for obtain permitting.
Kendall reported that one of the infrastructure initiatives the firm has been working on at the Rauschenberg campus is converting septic systems to a central wastewater network. Only serving the campus, seven houses on the central and east portions will get connected to the FGUA plant.
“It’s been almost three years’ worth of work,” she said. “So we’re really excited to finally reach the culmination and get started on it in the next few months.”
Taking questions from the CCP and meeting attendees, Kendall reported that a lift station will be located past the main gate, off the driveway. It will be visible until the new plantings grow in. Also, the design was planned for flexibility for possible future connection to an island-wide central system.
– Vice President David Mintz reported that the CCP’s proposed ordinances — fertilizer, golf carts, noise and parking — were recently presented to the Executive Regulatory Oversight Committee for the Lee County Commission and the committee members unanimously approved proceeding on them.
He added that the committee did recommend two changes to the golf cart ordinance. The CCP had initially wanted language prohibiting open alcohol containers on carts, which was removed. However, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office thought it will be helpful and the language has been added back in.
As for the second, the proposed ordinance calls for rental companies to provide written notice to customers about the rules for operating carts on Captiva. The committee wanted the language for the notice to be approved by the county, so a document will be drafted for county staff to sign off on.
Mintz reported that the ordinances will go before the county commission in April for final approval.
– Mintz reported that the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has approved the county’s year-round manatee zone for the Roosevelt Channel, so the county will replace the signs.
– Captiva Erosion Prevention District Executive Director Daniel Munt reported that Lee County is monitoring the situation with the dead fish on the beach and will rake once it hits a certain threshold.
– Fire Chief Jeff Pawul reported that the Captiva Island Fire Control District has seen an increase in marine-related emergency calls. He advised people not to call the station or his cell phone for aid.
“I can’t stress the importance of calling 911 in any emergency,” Pawul said.
He added that people are welcome to call him or the station for non-emergencies, however.
Pawul also reported that his crews are having to dig out fire hydrants on a daily basis. He reminded property owners to not allow their contractors to pile storm debris and sand around the hydrants.
“It’s going to take that much longer to get a water source established,” Pawul said of if there is a fire and crews have to first dig out the hydrant because they cannot access it — when minutes matter.
– The CCP voted unanimously to join the new SanCap Citizens for a Resilient Future and for Panel Member Linda Laird to represent it, which she will also be doing for the CEPD as its secretary.
– President Jay Brown reported that as of the meeting, about 120 people had contributed to the campaign to benefit Pawul and his displaced family with their recovery and rebuilding post-storm. The contributions received total over $130,000. The CCP is collecting the donations until March 31.
“I think that speaks volumes about the kind of community Captiva is,” Brown said.
Checks can be made payable to Jeff Pawul and mailed to Captiva Community Panel, P.O. Box 72, Captiva, FL 33924. Because he is a public employee, state law requires that donors submit a waiver with their contribution. The CCP asks that donors submit their completed waiver with their check.
To download the waiver, visit https://captivacommunitypanel.us6.list-manage.com/track/click?u=656168b945160d61770bf02f5&id=228dd3e024&e=8d4baae3d0. Those unable to download the waiver can still send a check; the CCP will then email them the waiver to complete and return.
For more information, contact CCP Administrator Ken Gooderham at captivacommunitypanel@gmail.com or 239-489-2616.
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