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Cape City Council approves land rezoning, creates Property Rights Element for Comprehensive Plan

By CHUCK BALLARO - | Dec 2, 2021

Cape Coral City Council on Wednesday unanimously approved an ordinance to rezone 50 properties (12.71 acres) in central Cape Coral from Professional (P) to Residential Multi-Family Low (RML). It was the second and final public hearing on an area of the city that was once thought of as a possible hub for business and political development.

Council also approved an ordinance amending the city of Cape Coral Comprehensive Plan by creating the Property Rights Element.

In 2021, the Florida Legislature adopted House Bill 59 requiring local governments to adopt a Property Rights Element to their Comprehensive Plans.

No new Future Land Use Map amendments or Comprehensive Plan text amendments will be accepted for review by state agencies until this element is established by local government.

The council also unanimously approved an ordinance that authorizes and directs the mayor to enter into an “Amended Master Lease Agreement for All Charter Schools and Facilities” with the Cape Coral Charter School Authority for the lease of property owned by the city.

Also, Todd Maurer, chairman of the Charter Review Commission, discussed what the group recommended as changes to the city’s charter.

The CRC recommended the removal of the language of a line-item veto by the mayor in three separate sections on the charter.

It also recommended language be added to address the occurrence of three or more candidates qualifying for the vacancy and that public safety be referenced in the Comprehensive Plan.

Another discussion concerned the city’s possible sponsorship of the Edison Festival Light and donate $5,000 to the cause. Councilmember Jennifer Nelson brought the issue up for discussion saying she believes that if the city decided to sponsor an event in Fort Myers, other municipalities could reciprocate and help sponsor events in Cape Coral or other places.

Those others on council were not convinced. Gloria Tate asked where the money would come from to donate, while Robert Welsh asked what the money would be used for.

“I think we should partner with cities on regional issues. We don’t have enough information for us to be able to commit. We need to know where the money will be utilized,” Mayor John Gunter said.

The city’s Committee of the Whole is set to met next Wednesday at 2 p.m. Meetings are held in council chambers at City Hall is at 1015 Cultural Park Blvd.