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'"1 '•:'.' r.i'i f:;"*f;".:'v Police watch Groh retires Weavings page11A pageiB pageiC DECEMBERS 1995 VOLUME 24 NUMBER 48 (-, 1 3 SECTIONS, 40 PAGES \ ~ PORTER Burger battle nearly back on burner McDonald's submits to city completed application, releases drawing By Mark S. Krzos News Editor Like burgers on the griddle and fries in oil, the debate over whether to build a Sanibel McDonald's is heating up again. Sanibel architect Ray Fenton sub- mitted his revised rendering and revised floor plan of the proposed McDonald's to the city last week for review. McDonald's released this artist's rendering of the proposed restaurant this week. The company also sub- Fenton said the new design is within mitted a completed application for the required permits. the character of the island and has design was attractive. the island." McDonald's Corp. Bonnie Bonomo eliminated the drive-thru drawn in the "The issue that we started with is McDonald's franchise owner Fred agreed. original plan. that [the restaurant] doesn't bring utili- Frederic said the complete application "We're in the waiting game right Tom Gilhooley, co-chairman of the ty to the island," Gilhooley said. "The has been submitted to the city. now," Bonomo said. "I don't have a opposition group McDonald's;— fact that the rendition is attractive is not "Right now we're waiting for the crystal ball so I really ean't tell you Sanibellians Protecting Our Island the issue; it doesn't bring anything to Planning Commission to give us a what they're going to do. Right now it's Lifestyle (McSPOIL) admitted the schedule, but there are a few things that in Sanibel's hands." we do need to correct and that should Frederic maintains that McDonald's be completed by the end of next week," has met everyone of the city's specifi- CEPD awards Frederic said. Marketing Supervisor for •please see page 2A contract for beach City ordinance r etightens renourishment project mangrove cutting rules By Michelle Moran state Department of Environmental Staff Writer Protection and U.S. Army Corps of By Mark S. Krzos With state and federal, permits in Engineers permits secured, commis- News Editor hand, Captiva Erosion Prevention sioners called for the emergency One man's blessing District Commissioners (CEPD) meeting Nov. 27 and awarded the bid. can be another man's selected a $7.78 million bid Nov. 27 Negotiations with TL. James will fol- curse as evidenced in a moving their beach renourishment low over the next two weeks, accord- hearing Nov. 21 that pit- project closer to reality. ing to Hagerup. ted waterfront property owners against environ- CEPD Administrator Alison "We're getting closer. We have to mentalists. Hagerup said commissioners selected now negotiate a contract with the a $7,783,920 bid from Great Lakes dredger and close on the financing for The city of Saiiibel Dredge and Dock Company of New the project," she said adding a con- approved a mangrove Jersey over New Orleans's based T.L. struction schedule should be decided trimming ordinance James & Company's $7,466,911 bid. by the Dec. 14 meeting. which severely reduces The higher bid was selected due to Although funding for the project the restrictions by which technical issues. has been questioned, Hagerup said a mangrove can be cut. "We selected Great Lakes because the CEPD has secured all funding for The new state law, The city fears a new state mangrove cutting they were willing to work within our the $9.5 million project. which sets new rules for law will lead to severe cutting. A city ordi- time frame whereas T.L. James might The project involves the placement mangrove trimming goes nance approved Tuesday is intended to pre- not be able to get to us before of 750,000 cubic yards of sand on into effect Dec. 13 and vent too much cutting. February," .Hagerup said, adding work Captiva as well as 200,000 cubic forces local governments set its own rules within because it gives property is expected to begin in December or yards on the northern 3/4 mile of to regulate the greatly the state's guidelines. owners significant lee- January. Sanibel. Captiva property owner reduced state mangrove Natural Resources way from the previous trimming requirements. • "It was in the best interest of the assessments will not be used for any Director Rob Loflin said ordinance that at times, community," CEPD commissioner, part of the Sanibel project. The Assistant City if mangroves are 10 feet forbid any mangrove cut- Dave Jensen said of the selection. Sanibel portion will be funded Manager Bill Mills said a or less they may be ting. Commissioners had voted Nov. 9 through county and state funds, and a state delegation, which trimmed to six feet. But according to to ask dredgers for a 30 day extension loan from the city of Sanibel. Sanibel joined in approv- Loflin said he believed Loflin if the mangroves of the bids allowing for time to ing the state's law allows the new ordinance was exceed 10 feet a profes- receive final permits. But with both •please see page 2A local governments to extremely poor on the oversee the trimming and environmental standpoint •please see page 2A 2A U UtUtlVltStDECEMBEHR 1, iyyt1995) UQ ISLAND Ht^UREPORTEm fcHR Commission gives thumbs up to dock for kayaks only Bvy Mark SS.. Krzos Pfalzer said the dock, which is only 18 inches "This is a pristine area. There are a lot of birdbit s and News Editor wide, is too small to launch any motorized vehicles. there is a community dock not that far away," Levy Avid kayaker and nature lover Tom Albert told According to Pfalzer, Loflin wants the dock to said. "This dock would be a wedge in the door. If I planning commissioners Tuesday of the hardship he increase in width to three feet so it would discourage lived there I would also want a dock." has in launching his canoes and kayaks and proposed any launching from the sides of the dock as well as John Veenschoten said he agreed to a point. building a dock solely for that purpose. protecting the surrounding mangroves. "I would like to do what I can to protect this area," Albert told the Sanibel Planning Commission in "Rob examined this alternative and he had no Veenschoten said. "The dock is basically already order to launch his kayak, he had to trudge through problem with this," Pfalzer said. The alternative, how- there, so I really don't have that much of a problem." bushy mangroves and thick mud just to get to water ever, would be defined as a boat dock, and would But Louise Johnson said this is why many people that is barely two inches deep. require extensive permits. come to Sanibel. "It's an interesting application," city planner Ken "All my neighbors support this," Albert said. "He's not operating a motor boat," Johnson said. Pfalzer said. "Tom is an avid canoeist and kayaker. "When my grandchildren aren't around I launch my "This is a good way to make use of the wildlife we He has to walk through more than 30 feet of man- kayak by walking through about six inches of mud." have around us." groves and mud to launch his boat, so due to the tidal Albert said the water is very shallow and is Albert said he would agree to make an adjustment changes and the mud flat that comes off the man- approximately one to three inches deep. to his home's deed wherein no motorized boats could groves, he feels that a small dock is needed." "The newer kayaks have the ability to launch in be docked, moored or launched from the dock. According to Pfalzer, Albert constructed small even less than an inch of water," Albert said. "The Commissioners subsequently gave their approval wooden planks over the mud flat, but after Natural dock is so we don't have to walk through the thick for the construction by a six to one margin, with Levy Resources Director Rob Loflin visited the site, he mud or harm the surrounding mangroves." voting against. determined the area was an aquatic preserve and the But Commissioner James Levy said he was not in A second hearing will be held Dec. 12. mud flats might suffer damage. favor of allowing the dock to go in. —MCDONALD'S . - ... •from page 1A "They're going to look at the location for commer- "We always look at the facade," he said. "We have cations. cial development recommendations," Rogers said. to go deeper than the facade." "We've taken out the drive-thru, redesigned the Meanwhile, McSPOIL is gearing up for another The proposed McDonald's would be located on the outside and are currently making changes to bur traf- battle. McSPOIL member Ron Smiley said the fight north side of Periwinkle Way between Palm Ridge fic study," Frederic said. hasn't ceased. Road and Tarpon Bay Road. Planning Director Bruce Rogers said the firm the "Our next route is to find out how a McDonald's Opposition to the McDonald's has been strong city hired to do its own study of the traffic impact of a will affect traffic," Smiley said. "We're waiting for since the company submitted applications for permits McDonald's found an error in the McDonald's engi- the city's studies to be completed before we do any- approximately two years ago. The original design of neers' study.

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