Islanders attend M/PIFCD meeting to discuss Cape’s land annexation, request to purchase Fire Station #4 in Matlacha
Opposition to the city of Cape Coral annexation of land on Pine Island is becoming habitual for many islanders.
At a meeting of the Matlacha/Pine Island Fire Control District Wednesday, May 25, residents were up in arms once again over the request for a voluntary annexation of the land on the east end of the island, where Burnt Store Road and Veterans Parkway meet Pine Island Road, just as you enter and exit the island into the city of Cape Coral.
At the meeting, Fire Commissioner Chair Tonya Player announced Fire Chief Ben Mickuleit had been approached by the city of Cape Coral with its interest in purchasing Fire Station #4 in Matlacha. The request was voted down unanimously, when Player asked for a verbal vote from each commissioner.
Public comment on the voluntary land annexation approved a week prior by the Cape Coral City Council was opened by request of the fire board, inviting all who attended to voice any concerns on record.
Bokeelia resident Annora Sidler said she had attended the Cape City Council meeting the week prior when the annexation was approved.
“It was embarrassing and it was annoying … basically, I think we ought to incorporate so they can’t touch us,” Sidler said.
Greater Pine Island Water Association general manager and St. James City resident Laurie Adams said, as water provider, she can attest to the fact that untrue statements were made at the Cape Coral meeting.
“We are able to provide water now and in the future and our infrastructure is right there. It doesn’t put any others who are currently our members in any harm in terms of our ability to serve,” Adams said.
Other public concerns regarding the annexation included major development being added at the entryway to Pine Island, the Cape Coral’s motive in wanting to progress onto the island and what further expansion might look like over time.
Matlacha Civic Association President Mike Hannon, an attorney who also led Matlacha in a previous court battle against Cape Coral when the city attempted to annex the land it owns at D&D Bait and Tackle Shop, said the Matlacha Civic Association was initially ruled against in the dispute.
“We took that case to the court of appeals and the court of appeals reversed it and went back to the judge and that annexation was turned down,” Hannon said.
Hannon has researched the case Matlacha won in order to prepare islanders for what will need to be done in order to win the case against Cape Coral. Lee County, he said, is responsible for changing zoning according to the people.
“All this land is zoned by our elected officials in Lee County as agricultural. We voted for them, they did what we wanted. The owners of this land own land in Lee County. If they wanted to change the zoning they would have to go to Lee County and go through the legal procedure to re-zone it and we could all go and object,” Hannon said.
The purpose of annexation, he explained, is to allow people who live outside of cities to benefit from the services of a particular city in exchange for taxation.
“The annexation statute says that a city cannot voluntarily annex land that is not currently urban in character. This property is not currently urban in character. None of the owners of this land have developed it in an urban fashion. They don’t want to obtain the services of Cape Coral, they want the zoning of Cape Coral,” Hannon said.
The only people who have standing to object to this annexation, he said, are those who currently reside or own land in Cape Coral.
The Matlacha Civic Association is asking the Pine Island Fire Commissioners to object to the annexation, based on the fact that they are a government entity and the land is not urban in character, he said. In addition, the Matlacha Civic Association is asking anyone who owns property in Cape Coral to object to the annexation.
Fire Chief Ben Mickuleit said he, along with Fire Commissioner Michael Dreikorn, and the district attorney will meet with Cape Coral city officials in an effort to resolve the issue. A letter of resolution has been filed under Florida Statute 164.
To reach PAULETTE LeBLANC, please email pleblanc@breezenewspapers.com