New Bridge Or Know No Sooner Than July 28 Island
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Every week we mail to every home and business on Sanibel and Captiva, subscribers throughout the United States, and... , Carroll O'Connor Malibu, CA VOL. 5, NO. 48 SANIBEL & CAPTIVA ISLANDS, FLORIDA MAY 29, 1998 MAY/JUNE SUNRISE/SUNSET: 2906:37 20:14 30 06:36 20:15 31 06:36 20:15 1; 06:36 20:16 2 06:36 20:16 3 06:36 20:17 4 06:36 20:17 28 rather than September 22 as origi- New Bridge nally moved by Vice-Chairman Dick Downes and seconded by Nola Thiess Or Know But at least three Commissioners— Chairman John Veenschoten and Public Invited to Commissioners Steve Greenstein and Phyllis Bogen—thought a date in Show For Commission September undue delay for applicants who had first presented their applica- Workshop tion on March 18. By Fran Nuelle At issue was an upcoming City lanning Commissioners will hold Council proposed amendment to a sec- their workshops on the study of a tion of an ordinance, I.F.4. pertaining new bridge over San Carlos Bay to "clustering" which will be considered P and probably decided on July 21. to the mainland of Lee County in three sessions this summer at BIG Arts Appearing for the Planning Center rather than in MacKenzie Hall, Department, Planner Ken Pfalzer but also on Dunlop Road. assured Commissioners that their These meetings, not only open to preparatory staff work would require the public but with the public urged to no more than one week, thus helping attend, will begin at 9 a.m. on June 9, three Commissioners decide for an ear- July 14 and August 11. Discussion of lier date. issues involving the Causeway will Proponents for the September 22 begin at 9:15 a.m. with a County con- date were Downes, Thiess and Marty sultant, Kris Cella, CEO of Cella, Harrity. They joined with Veenschoten, DeBerry & Associates, Incorporated of Greenstein and Bogen for 6-0 and the Fort Myers (planning, engineering and July 28 date, after it was agreed they permitting) presenting their facts and would convene on a day they had not taking notes. planned to. Commissioner Edie Slayton The workshop on June 14 will be was excused. devoted to a definition of the issues The decision was complicated involved. because of the Commission's new com- Planning Director Bruce Rogers told mitment to hear evidence for issues Commissioners that the county as well involving the new bridge from Sanibel as the city is making an effort to inform across the Bay to the mainland. For Sanibel residents, property owners and three meetings in three months, they all others on the issues involving a new will hear public testimony for or against bridge planned in its earliest stages for a new bridge and whether the the year 2005 or 2015. Causeway islands should be kept as is. Whether the Causeway will remain During their other meetings, they will hear applications for development, Continued on page 4 conditional use or variance. Continued on page 5 No Sooner Island Medical Than July 28 Center To Close Michigan By Priscilla Friedersdorf he Island Medical Center located Homes"Cluster" at 1648 Periwinkle Way will Tclose on June 26. The center Request Awaits which was opened in 1993 by the Dick "The Commish" and Emily "Mrs. Commish" Muench Columbia Regional Medical Center has Council Vote treated over 3,000 patients, locals and ' By Fran Nuelle tourists, each year. Surprise, Dick Muench! tie vote among Planning Dr. Phillip Davis has been with the he ball field at Sanibel Recreation Complex was dedicated Commissioners on Tuesday gave center since September of 1994 and Beverly Ostien, the Nurse Practitioner, Sunday, May 24th at the 25th anniversary celebration of Michigan Homes, Incorporated, youth baseball and softball. The field was named Richard Arequesting a development permit for joined the group when they opened in T 16 "clustered" single family homes on 1993. Prior to coming to Sanibel, "Dick" Muench Field in honor of a lifetime of dedication and com- 10 lots, an earlier third hearing. Davis was the Emergency Room mitment to youth baseball and softball on Sanibel and Captiva,^ A second hearing will be held July Physician at Gulf Coast Hospital. Continued on page 32 Island Sun - May 29, 1998 Page 3 Island Sun - May 29, 1998 Sanibel-Captiva Sanibel-Captiva San-Cap Weather History Seven Day Chamber of Commerce Chamber of Commerce by Jim Blocker Date Weather Forecast May High Low Precipitation \ ' by Jim Clarke. Chief Meteorologist, NBC 2 1998 Platform Issue 1998 Platform Issue 19 88 68 0 Date Temperature Rain Wind Gulf 20 91 72 0 May/June Low High (Chances) (Knots) Temp Subject: Replacement Of Replacement of Causeway and Bridge 92 70 0 21 29 74 92 50% S 10-15 81 he Sanibel-Captiva Chamber of Commerce proposes the following 22 91 69 0 Sanibel Causeway And Bridge approach to the causeway /bridge replacement issue: 30 75 91 40% SW 10-15 81 he current Sanibel causeway and bridge were built in 1963, 71 0 1. Safety is the number one priority--at no time should the cause- 23 89 replacing the ferry service that was the only means of connecting T 31 74 92 60% S 10-15 82 24 90 70 0 Sanibel and Captiva islands with the mainland. In 1990 Lee way commuters be placed in danger by structural deficiencies on the T bridge or causeway. There should be no interruption to traffic flow dur- 25 92 73 0 6/1 74 90 40% SW-10 82 County embarked upon a plan to replace the existing causeway and bridge with a new elevated causeway and high span bridge. A group of ing construction or after. Hurricane evacuation should be a prime con- A new element reared its ugly face during the reporting week: air.pollu- 2 75 91 20% S/SW10 82 sideration in any design. tion. A persistent high pressure system became entrenched over all of citizens of Sanibel (the "Save Our Bridge" committee) objected to this Florida during the week which literally and figuratively put a "lid" on air 3 75 92 30% S5-10 83 plan and placed a referendum before the voters of Sanibel that, if 2. Regardless what action is taken, any replacement decision should pollutants from being dispersed into the atmosphere. The hazy skies that passed, would require the City to take the position with regard to any attempt to solve the existing problems associated with the unimpeded 75 93 30% Var 5-10 83 prevailed were characteristic of what folks living in Southern California future replacement as follows: flow of traffic both on and off the islands-solutions should include a min- expect to see most of the year. Smog reports are a daily "thing" in that • Minimal replacement of the bridge or causeway only when necessary imum of two continuous lanes exiting the islands to preclude the bottle- state, whereas, here in Southwest Florida, it's almost an unheard of occur- • Preservation of the causeway islands necks caused by two lanes merging into one and back to two, etc.-solu- rence. But, it did. Auto exhaust, fumes from filling your gas tank, industrial Tropical Disturbance In Caribbean • Minimal expenditure of public funds for such a project tions should also include some resolution of the delays caused by the burning, fires and the like, all contribute to air pollution. Normally, the air draw bridge which has to open for almost every sailboat, regardless of flow patterns over our environs prevent pollutants from collecting because • Minimal increase in causeway tolls by Jim Blocker 95U 90H B5H BOH 75W 7DH 65H SOU 55H SDH H5H 10H 35H they get dispersed by winds from the Gulf of Mexico, the Atlantic Ocean • Conduct an independent evaluation to determine the condition of size. and even the Caribbean Sea. As we approach the summer season, and you tropical distur- the existing bridge and causeway 3. If, for environmental considerations, it is necessary to enlarge the know we're in it from looking at the temperatures, our air becomes "unsta- bance in the west- The referendum passed and became City of Sanibel Ordinance No. opening where the gulf meets the bay, attempts should be made to save ble." This is the time of year we witness billowing cumulus clouds "vacuum" Aern Caribbean 90-02. Various studies were done to determine the useful life remaining at least one of the causeway islands, which provide healthy recreation our air so that we see blue skies, generously mixed with the summer rain- Sea sent clouds and a for the causeway and bridge by several firms-Griner; Kunde, Driver, and for county residents and tourists alike, while at the same time, providing makers. But, this last week, our skies became stagnant and polluted few sprinkles and show- Associates; Kissinger and Campo; Carl Smith and Associates; and an some relief for the limited parking facilities at Sanibel and Captiva because of another anomaly in a year filled with unusual weather events all ers into Southwest Ad Hoc City Bridge Committee. The results of these different studies beaches. over the globe. Florida on May 26th and were also different, stating that the current causeway and bridge would I recorded 0.05 of an 4. Any decision with regard to this subject should be a joint effort by In Southern California, this is the time of year that rain exits until have a useful life until the year 1997, 2001, 2004, 2005, 2014 and November and high pressure prevails over the area. Cool ocean water cre- inch of rain on the 27th.