P&Z approves land use on Pine Island Road District
The Cape Coral Planning & Zoning Commission on Wednesday approved land use change for parcels near Pine Island Road, setting the stage for potential commercial or mixed-use development near Veterans Boulevard.
The commission voted 5-1 to change the land use on two ordinances from rural (a Lee County designation) to Pine Island Road District (PIRD) for land on Southwest Pine Island Road and Little Quail Lane, and unanimously on a third.
The land use change was on property that was voluntarily annexed into the city of Cape Coral in May, which the Cape Coral City Council approved despite pushback from residents who live in areas impacted by the annexation and from those who live in Pine Island and Matlacha, who said it would negatively impact their way of life.
On Wednesday, few residents brought concerns, many similar to the concerns expressed two months ago.
Deborah Swisher said there is an historic church in the area, and that projects associated with such land uses would impact traffic and hurricane evacuation routes and status.
“I respectfully ask that you consider removing this for consideration for the issues to be addressed or denied the application,” Swisher asked on both ordinances.
James Hawk was concerned that his driveway was a right-of-way to get to the three acres planned for the land use change. He wanted the city to give the land use change more thought.
“They are rezoning this in Cape Coral to make it commercial and I will still be residential,” Hawk said. “How will this affect me living there?”
City Planner Chad Boyko reminded the commission that the future land use amendment was to approve the general nature of what would be developed and whether what could be developed is compatible, not the specifics such as mixed-use, commercial, multifamily, etc…
“It’s to look at whether you think the area itself is suitable for the type of development that is proposed. The finer aspects get fished out during the zoning process,” Boyko said. “It’s a multi-tiered process. You have to decide if its appropriate for the style of development.”
One of the P&Z members, Anthony Schwartz, expressed the same concerns as residents and was the lone dissenter on both ordinances.
The land use ordinances will now go before Cape Coral City Council for an introduction and public hearing. The dates have not yet been determined.
To reach CHUCK BALLARO, please email news@breezenewspapers.com