Cape approves voluntary annexations
Despite protests from numerous residents from Pine Island, the Cape Coral City Council unanimously approved a pair of voluntary annexations in the Pine Island Road/Veterans Parkway area on Wednesday.
The two ordinances, which took up most of the time during a three-hour meeting, will open up the two properties for commercial development, reportedly a hotel and an apartment complex.
The first annexation was for four parcels on 12.47 acres on the corner of Pine Island Road and the east side of Veterans Parkway.
The second annexation is nearby, with four parcels totaling 25 acres on the west side of Veterans Parkway, with the intent to allow commercial or mixed-use development.
Both annexations would help implement the city’s comprehensive plan, increase the Cape’s inventory of non-residential land, result in the removal of enclaves and would be a logical extensions of city borders, city officials said.
City sewer services will be available at the sites, water services will be provided by the Greater Pine Island Water Association, and the Cape Coral Fire and Police departments will serve the properties.
However, Pine Island residents, many part of the community’s civic association, came out with disapproval. They said the annexation would result in nightmarish traffic at an intersection that saw one traffic fatality in the past year. They pointed out that any accidents result in preventing anyone from coming into or leaving the island.
“The location where this annexation is being proposed is the only evacuation route for our island,” one speaker said. “It’s the only route available to our 10,000 residents.”
Others said the annexation would destroy the character of the island and that the annexation was a loophole to circumvent the Greater Pine Island plan to allow developers to build whatever they want on the property.
Sandy Wilkin said she lived in Cape Coral for years before moving to Matlacha. Though she loves the city, she said it should not annex the property.
“The annexation area is a large drainage area and part of the preserve. Also, the infrastructure is not in place to handle the traffic,” Wilkin said. “We’re out of season and I still sat for an hour because of an accident. Pine Island Road cannot support another structure.”
Council had little discussion before casting its 8-0 votes on both measures.
Councilmember Dan Sheppard, who runs his business on Pine Island, said he understood everything that was being mentioned.
“As neighbors we need to work together on the problems we all spoke about,” Sheppard said. “A lot of the traffic on Pine Island Road isn’t the Cape’s fault. I deal with it like you. It’s tourists, and Matlacha has become a magnet for them.”
Councilmember Jennifer Nelson said it would be hard to say no, given the annexation was voluntary and that the problems can be resolved by working together.
The residents were not appeased after the vote, believing the decision was pretty much a done deal.
“They can’t do what they want with that property because of the rules Pine Island has, so to get around it they give it to Cape Coral and they can do whatever they want,” said Claudio Pergallini. “It’s an end-run. The city can do that to the whole island and turn it into a giant condo.”
“Several folks who said they understand the traffic on Pine Island Road said they wanted to work together,” Katrina Bailey said. “Widening Pine Island Road is not a solution to our problem. I believe the decision was made before we walked in here.”
To reach CHUCK BALLARO, please email news@breezenewspapers.com