Sanibel Causeway

»;»•'••• - I B36 January 12, 1979 Island Reporter V.: '•(•A K^ By Peter Larson ned to attend the dedication, said the donation was a gift to the. In 1896 a small band of home- American people in honor of her steaders arrived on Buck Key to family. stake their claim on the island The Benedict property includes wilderness. two tracts at the northern tip of This afternoon a small group of Buck Key as well as the central conservationists will visit Buck portion of the 1.5 mile-long island. Key -to stake a different kind of The-entire 200 acre property will clam when they formally dedicate be dedicated as the "Benedict 200 acres of land donated to The Wildlife Sanctuary." Nature Conservancy by Mrs. Elena Duke Benedict of White Once the site of a boy's school Not totally finished, mind you, but finished enough for us to show you the Plains, New York. and commercial citrus groves, exciting concept of the Punta Rassa waterfront condominium development. Valued at approximately $1 Buck Key has been uninhabited Punta Rassa is perfectly situated well away from traffic and congestion at the million, the three tracts of land for decades. Conservationists donated by Mrs. Benedict account value the island as a key habitat quiet end of the Sanibel Causeway. It's a five minute drive from SanibelV for nearly two-thirds of Buck Key', for several threatened' species, shelling and swimming beaches; 20 minutes from the airport and Edison Mall; .an uninhabited island located just including the American bald eagle, 30 minutes from downtown Fort Myers and only 45 minutes from Naples. east of Captiva in Pine Island the peregrine falcom and the Punta Rassa is directly on the intracoastal waterway with immediate boating Sound. MrSi Benedict, whoplan- Florida grasshopper sparrow. access to the Caloosahatchee River, Pine Island Sound and the Gulf of Mexico. Naturalists say the island also has an incomparable array of native The condominiums at Punta Rassa will feature spacious two and three bedroom trees tuid^sh*ubs. apartments, all with unobstructed views of thê water, in beautifully deseed 10 Early aerial photo shows Buck Key, right, beside neighbor- For several years the preserva- story complexes. The amenities will include tennis courts, a swimming pool, club ing Captiva Uland. Nearly 2<H) acres of envxronmentaUy -sensitive Buck'Key land, valued at approximately $1 tion of Buck Key has been a high house, a fishing pier and solariums with a full service small boat marina right; million, will be dedicated this afternoon as the "Benedict priority of the Sanibel-Captiva next door. The site of Punta Rassa is nothing less than spectacular commanding Wildlife Sanctuary." . Conservation Foundation. Zoned 180 degrees of breathtaking views of San Carlos Bay, the Caloosahatchee River for a potential 300 dwelling units, it seemed inevitable the island and the Gulf of Mexico, There are no would suffer the same develop- buildings yet at Punta Rassa -no ment pressures experienced on models - nothing fancy,.. just a barely Sanibel ready to implement growth law neighboring Captiva. Last year, completed sales office; but we think a 9 when Buck Key was rejected as a look at the site and the plans will about to make history. — Mayor Duane White possible addition to the J.N. "Ding" Darling National Refuge, convince some of you early birds of By Susie Holly to consider growth legislation or put it to a gave us was a real hard chore," Councilman the island's future became even the rare value that Punta Rassa public vote. Council opted to take: the Goss commented before the final vote on more uncertain. represents. We'll be looking forward to - They finally did it. After endless hours of question to the public. Tuesday. "I don't pretend that this is a The SCCF is hopeful that the showing you Punta Rassa. We'll be drafting, redrafting,, rearranging, rework- Sanibel voters overwhelmingly sponsored perfect document. But at this point in Benedict gift will stimulate ing and refinmg, Sanibel îty Council the idea of growth control in the November history, this is a pretty good effort. I don't open every day from 10 until dusk. members unanimously passed an ordinance 21 election. More than 72 percent endorsed know that anyone has anything better." further Buck Key land donations We are Island Resales Tuesday outlining a system for limiting the the referendum question. > . The 10-page implementing ordinance has and that the entire island will one been criticized throughout its preparation day be added to the "Ding" Exclusive Sales Agents city's growthrate to 180 dwelling units per The COTI growth control legislation gave •year.: •,'-'.•'•"•.'•'•'"-^\:.-: '•'+ '^.x^.- '^ V '^V ••'••. council 60 days in which to come up with a for being technical and difficult to under- . Darling Refuge. Some 135 acres of Real Estate Brokers But even after the final vote was token, . system of administering the growth uate: council pointed, put; that' the implementing That 60 days ended today. "What COTI • •# continued on 8-A # continued on 9-A ordinance' was not necessarily a final product and would" have to be nearly constantly reviewed to work out unforeseen problems in the unprecedented legislation. Wait and see reaction to ROG With only a little bit of fanfare — some . short speeches, applause, and Councilman "Porter Goss's specially-made ROG (Rate of By Susie Houy proviso that within 45 days we review it to Chairman Ann Winterbotham acknowl- p. Wi. Growth) T-shirt - Sanibel became one of see which direction we are going. If we wait edged that the commissioners had a big job the very first cities in the country to pass The general reaction this week to the until theerid of the year, we may be snowed in front of them, but said the ordinance was In such legislation. Other cities which have_ newly-passed ordinance outlining an alloca- in. acceptable. I achieved some notoriety for their growth tion system limiting Sanibel's growth rate "We would ask you to examine it prior to Commissioner Betty Robinson voiced the management are Boulder, Colorado, and to 180 dwelling units per year'was one of December," COTI attorney Jim Humphrey most concern about the viability of the Petaluman, California. "Well, let's wait and see what happens." echoed, -to make sure you have been ordinance. "I hope time will prove me "We are about to make history," Mayor Most people seemed apprehensive about definitive enough. We support it and think wrong, but I believe this will be harder to Duane White said. "This document certain- the ordinance passed by city council on administer than anyone thinks at this ly is not perfect. But we have a vehicle now Tuesday. AH agreed, however, that the point," she said. - which can be molded, mended and shaped to system would have to be tried before faults m She also pointed but that she did not achieve what we are striving for - which is could be found and changes made. believe the. ordinance would achieve a to maintain the historic definition of Representatives' of Committee of the balance between single and multi-family Sanibel." Islands (COTI), the .group which really housing as it is set out ta do. "Single-family The ordinance passed by council Tuesday initiated Sanibel's growth rate legislation, homes are protected, but unless we get said they were pleased with the ordinance, single-family applications, a balance will not ...••,-.-. - - rM was mandated by Sanibel voters who first, approved the idea of limiting the island's but asked that it be' reviewed before the result. I suggest council /give serious Waterfront Condominiums on San Carlos Bay growth in a referendum election last required annual review. COTI member consideration to incentives for single-family November. That original legislation was John Hutchings said, "I think you have to it is a viable ordinance. We commend city houses." V :•'-•': • • '':'-:)'": ' •'. .1 prepared by the Committeesof the Islands feel pretty^good about this ordinance. We council for the time expended and the Some: builders and developers voiced the ! are in good shape for a start. I think we will amount of attention givea to their duties in_ same concerns as Commissioner Robinson. m A: (COTI). Concerned that new construction v on Sanibel was outracrag available public learn a lot'in the first go-around." Hutch- -preparing-this ordinance."' Robert Horak of Bayshore Homes spoke for 'services and that multi-family develop-' ings asked lor a review of the ordinance Planning commission members, who will many builders when he said the ordinance ments were overshadowing single-family soon. " - >- ' ' be responsible for the actual allocation of hurt single-family home builders. "I can see ^homes, GOT! members collected more thah COTI member Milena Eskew said the permits as outlined in the " ordinance, 700 signatures on a petition to force council group would accept the ordinance "with the expressed varied opinions. Commission • continued on 9-A A2 January 19,1979 Island Reporter IslandReporter January19,1979 A3 Butler vows action on housing problem IN BRIEF By Susie Holly Councilman JButler explained that those who live in a community are more concerned about the community and Stolen shells returnedrwith apologies The problem of low cost housing for Sanibel "hit «. nerve" become good contributing members. She pointed especially among the members of the League of Women Voters tojthe need, from a protection standpoint, for having the By Mark Twombly After describing the treak-in and theft. "I'll make a retraction in my next column Council delays Monday listening to Councilman. Zee Butter outtipe iher police force live bathe island, but added that taxes might Pierce wrote, "We sincerely hope that when regarding the parentage of the person who Committee abolished "Challenges Facing Sanibel." Among the several challenges • increaseôtbose police officers could be paid enough to live .

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