Campaign letters Candidates respond Artistic couple pages 4-16A&9B page 1B page 1C NOVEMBER3, 1995 VOLUME 24 NUMBER 44 3 SECTIONS, 40 PAGES ^ fiK IB t>- City adopts Ribbon tied draft of vision statement By Mark S. Krzos In the joint meeting News Editor between the City Council The city of Sanibel and Planning took a giant leap into the Commission, the firm future Tuesday when city hired to define Sanibel's officials unanimously vision, Wallace, Roberts adopted its vision state- and Todd, received prais- ment in general princi- es from all sectors of the ple. public. Bill Roberts of the "As one of the people firm who prepared the who encouraged the city statement said a vision to develop a vision state- statement it will give the ment, I'm extremely .pleased with this, docu- it can determine what is ment. It's a great benefit (1 to r) Lou Hinds, Peter Ware, Jaye Boswell, Noreen Klough, Porter Goss and Wally Eain acceptable for Sanibel. to us all," resident Curt helped tie a ribbon, rededicating the J.N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge Sunday. "A vision statement Stendahl said. will give the city a basis Everyone who spoke on which they can say agreed. 9 yes or no to certain "I've seen a number of Darling rededicated things such as restaurants these types of docu- on the beach," Roberts said. " ~ ~" •please see page 2A 50 years as aw ByRalfKircher looked down the road to the next about the last 50 years, but the Editor 50. next 50," he said. Officials from city, state and Just after World War II, there Goss said people have to real- federal governments gathered was a new mobility, Goss said. ize they cannot waste resources Sunday afternoon to rededicate America was on top of the world anymore; the environmental the J.N. "Ding" Darling and expansion, development and clock is ticking. National "Wildlife Refuge. overall growth were the goals of "The clock ticking is not a A ribbon tying ceremony and —the day. kitchen clock," he warned. "It's speeches from Rep. Porter Goss "To imagine there were peo- an alarm clock and it's about to and Mayor Wally Kain, among ple with the vision to look go off." others wound down the two-day ahead," Goss said, "I think is Goss' speech followed com- celebration of the refuge's 50th remarkable." ments by Geoffrey Haskett, anniversary and the birthday of Goss went on to say people assistant regional director of the Jay Norwood "Ding" Darling. should not lose track of this U.S. Fish arid Wildlife Service; Speakers reflected on the vision. Rev. Ralph E. Dennison of Residents packed City Council chambers refuge's past 50 years and "We've got to think not only •please see page 2A Tuesday, largely to voice support for the vision statement. Casa• Ybel Resort changes management 88 percent in By Mark S. Krzos Casa Ybel Partners previously operated by Hilton News Editor Grand Vacations." Naples hoteliers John Ayers, Larry Blankenship Ayers said Hilton Grand Vacation will still be suvery against and Jerry Shellabarger will join Hilton Grand involved in some of the resort's functions but will Vacations in sharing management responsibilities at mainly only be concerned-with managing the condo- the 114-suite Casa Ybel Resort. minium association. 'BeaeJi'rentals Their firm, Casa Ybel Hospitality Inc., will direct According to Ayers some resort employees who The Island Reporter erroneously reversed one day to day resort operations including reservations, have worked at the Casa Ybel Resort for years will be result of a Committee of the Islands survey in the amenities and guest programs, housekeeping and changing jobs and duties. • ••-'•. Oct. 27 edition. ("Study reveals support for beach maintenance. Hilton Grand Vacations, the former "When change is about to come, panic spreads," rentals," page 1A,) resort management group, will maintain an office on Ayers said. "But it's not about losing jobs. A lot of In fact, the results showed 88 percent of those resort property for interval ownership sales and con- people won't be affected by the change in manage- polled were opposed to beach rental equipment. dominium association management. ment, but some will have their duties changed." The Island Reporter regrets and apologizes for "Basically all that is really going on is a change of the error. management," Ayers said. "The company Casa Ybel •please see page 3A Hospitality, Inc. will take over all the amenities that 2AQ NOVEMBERS, 1995 Q ISLAND REPORTER EAR approved; Next step, Regional Planning Council By Mark S. Krzos last meeting. Commissioner Louise Johnson sug- "Roadways will not be widened, but News Editor City Council candidate Dick Walsh gested setting up a specific information we will explore such things as round- The Sanibel Planning Commission also suggested examining the city's network designed emergencies such as abouts." unanimously approved the state man- weir policy during the Oct. 24 meeting. hurricanes at the last meeting. According to Pfalzer most of the dated Evaluation and Appraisal Report Walsh said he was not questioning the "We've added a section that now other changes revolved around mis- (EAR) Tuesday to examine ways to weir's gauge setting, but if another set- includes a consideration adding a poli- spellings and typographical errors. provide sound planning practices for ting would be more suitable. cy to develop an information network After approving the EAR the plan- the future as well as examining past Pfalzer revised the weir policy to for the public to contact during threats ning commission sent the document to successes and failures. suit the community's concerns. from tropical storms and during recov- both the City Council and the Regional City planner Ken Pfalzer said the "We recommend a change to say ery periods from storm events," Pfalzer Planning Council for final approval. planning commission reviewed the 'consider amending this policy of weirs said. Rogers said the Regional Planning entire EAR Oct. 24 and recommended to maintain a minimum elevation of the Pfalzer also said Sanibel roadways Council will examine the initial some changes that include some minor weir crest of the Beach Road weir and will not be widened. approval by the planning commission revisions and adding some phrases. the Tarpon Bay weir in a manner con- "We want to preserve the historic, and compare it to possible revisions by Pfalzer said some of the more signif- sistent with the surface water manage- scenic and environmental characteris- the City Council. icant changes to the EAR came after ment,'" Pfalzer said. tics of the island," Pfalzer said. —VISION "Landscape buffers are an important issue and •from page 1A summer's meetings. "We came to the conclusion that Sanibel is a sanc- according to the public's perception there is a lack of ments," Planning Commission Chairman Dick tuary and planning measures should revolve around consistency," Fernsler said. "Residents also indicated Downes said. "But the Wallace, Roberts and Todd that fact," Roberts said. "There are three parts that they want to encourage sand or gravel parking lots work is exceptional." make up Sanibel's vision statement. It is a sanctuary, over blacktop, they want to see wildlife protected, Island resident Steve Greenstein praised City it is a community and it is an attraction." they want the beach protected and free from commer- Council and the visioning firm. According to Roberts the city of Sanibel is and cialization, they want a community that has small, "I'd like to say one thing," Greenstein said. will remain a barrier island sanctuary where a diverse medium and large homes, they want architectural "Thank you." population of residents live in harmony with the consistency and ways to improve traffic congestion Sanibel Planning Director Bruce Rogers said in the island's natural systems. during season," Fernsler said. planning for a vision statement, the city had to deter- "The Sanibel community will be vigilant in the Resident Jane Hale agreed. mine what issues would play a significant factor in protection of those barrier island characteristics and "For approximately 10 weeks we've got 10,000 shaping the future of Sanibel. will resist pressures to accommodate increased devel- cars causing all our troubles," Hale said. "If we're "After we determined what issues were important opment expectations beyond historic planned or going to remain a sanctuary we're going to have to do we felt that we should go outside the city and hire a zoned land uses," Roberts said. something to stop all the cars from coming on the firm to determine what our vision for the future According to Fernsler community is Sanibel's island." should be," Rogers said. "We were looking for a fresh most valuable asset and is characterized by its diver- Fernsler said something has to be done to view and subsequently hired Wallace, Roberts and sity, beauty and uniqueness. Periwinkle Way sometime in the near future. Todd." "The city of Sanibel celebrates its cultural, social "People are unhappy with Periwinkle Way," Over the summer a series of public meetings were and economic diversity and will protect individual Fernsler said. "We will eventually have to do some- held by Wallace, Roberts and Todd representatives rights and liberties from unreasonable intrusion," thing, but in no way are we suggesting widening the Bill Roberts and John Fernsler to get public feedback Fernsler said. "Sanibel's community aesthetic will road." on how to prepare Sanibel for the future. remain casual island style, all development will pre- Both council members and planning commission- "I've never seen a community and city staff work serve the community's small town identity and will ers indicated a unanimous consensus to adopt the so hard to come with a plan for the future as Sanibel," retain its rural character by avoiding commercializa- vision statement in general principle.