Each week through the General Election, The Breeze will ask the candidates for Cape Coral City Council an issue-related question. In the interest of fairness, each candidate is limited to the same amount of words, about 100, for their response.

This week’s question:

Name a growth-related challenge and/or opportunity you see for the north Cape. How should it be addressed or encouraged?

District 2 candidates’ answers:

Laurie Lehmann

With more homes being built in the North Cape and wells drying up, the challenge is getting city water and sewer to the north Cape at a reasonable cost to homeowners. The Utilities Expansion Project (UEP) is being undertaken but not fast enough, hence costs go up. Before the roads are resurfaced put in the city water and sewer in the north Cape so roads do not have to be done twice thus double spending on the same roads. Water is essential to daily life.

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Dan Sheppard (Incumbent)

To address growth in North Cape, encouraging proper commercial development will reduce the need for residents to travel long distances for goods and services, minimizing traffic congestion. Expanding the UEP, completing new parks, and focusing on beautification projects will enhance the community. Key opportunities include the upcoming Lee Health facility on Veterans Parkway, which will meet local medical needs, and improved boating access off the Spreader Canal, boosting recreational opportunities and property values. These efforts will create a more self-sufficient and attractive environment for families and residents alike.

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District 3 candidates’ answers:

Derrick Donnell

DerrickDonnell.com

One of the main challenges of the north Cape is the cost of the Utilities Expansion Project (UEP). It is imperative that all residents have access to clean potable water. We have an opportunity to aggressively seek grants and other funding mechanisms to bring the cost down. We should encourage all our local, state, and federal representatives to partner with us in seeking all funding opportunities to bring the cost down for all our infrastructure initiatives beginning with the UEP. Additionally, we have an exciting opportunity to develop the north Cape into a unique and desirable destination. I would like to encourage the public to get involved in the planning, expansion, and development of the north Cape.

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Deborah Lee McCormick

McCormickforCapeCouncil.com

I would like to see more businesses in retail and the food industry come to North Cape. There are plenty of opportunities for us as a city council to encourage small businesses to take advantage of our growing population and open space in North Cape. This will not only provide local residents with closer options for shopping but will also provide additional opportunities for tax revenue, benefiting everyone in the Cape.

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District 4 candidates’ answers:

Richard Carr (Incumbent)

VoteRichCarr.com

Growth in North Cape, both residential and commercial, is inevitable. While this brings opportunities, it also presents challenges, with the biggest being the need to keep up with infrastructure demands. Requiring large projects to bring necessary infrastructure to their properties before approving construction is a good way to ensure we can support the city’s expansion. Additionally, accelerating the completion of our utilities expansion projects will help accommodate rapid residential growth. We should make every effort to identify ways to reduce costs for residents in the Utilities Expansion Project (UEP) areas.

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Jennifer Nelson

NelsonforDistrict4.com

The Seven Islands project is our largest growth opportunity in the Northwest since 2017. This project must be completed with thoughtfulness due to the environmental, traffic, and tranquility impact it will have on our residence in that area. Also, we know that the only hurricane evacuation route out of the northwest part of our city is through Burnt Store road to I-75. This is where the I-75 connector from Del Prado would be an important asset to our city, especially considering economic growth and safety for hurricane evacuations.

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District 5 candidates’ answers:

Joseph Kilraine

KilraineforCape.com

The greatest challenge in the North, which affects the whole city, is the sustainability of the potable water aquifer source. The Mid-Hawthorne aquifer is shallow, being depleted and on the brink at which South Florida Water management could curtail building killing our city’s primary economic engine ie building trades (90% of Cape’s remaining growth is in the North) The fix is a new North water reclaim plant, re-ordering & accelerating the UEP. Supplemental federal funding must be prioritized to alleviate resident UEP cost burden. Also, an easily achievable opportunity is opening the already formed cut for easy gulf access which will increase home values instantly.

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Charlie Pease

VoteCharliePease.com

Bringing the right mix of commercial development to north Cape Coral presents both opportunities and challenges. Enhancing our commercial tax base is essential to alleviate the property tax burden on residents as our population grows. We must also recruit economic development that brings attractive career opportunities, such as technology and manufacturing companies, and a possible university satellite campus that can serve as an anchor. However, infrastructure challenges, including utilities expansion and road improvements, often impede progress. To overcome these challenges and accelerate impactful mixed-use projects such as Cape Coral Grove (130 acres in NW Cape) and Victory Park (230 acres in NE Cape), collaboration with industry is key. Innovative solutions, including tax increment financing, are vital for achieving mutually beneficial outcomes.

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District 7 candidates’ answers:

Michael David Harper

We all know the challenges for the North Cape, so I would like to present the following opportunity. The city has recently received a grant for $30 million for a new facility that will be a recreation center as well as a disaster shelter. I think the city should look into additional funding to add additional square footage onto the facility for a not-for-profit daycare center for the city workers and any teachers that teach in the Cape. With the city struggles in finding as well as keeping good employees, I feel that this additional benefit would be helpful in attracting more qualified employees.

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Rachel Kaduk

RachelKaduk.com

The Utilities Expansion Project cost and execution is crucial. We must continue to find grants to offset the cost for homeowners. We need to connect the Del Prado extension to I-75. This would serve as an evacuation route and help economic development. The intersection at Northeast 10th Lane (Del Prado) and Northeast 10th Place (Pine Island) is dangerous and needs a light. The roundabout at Littleton and Corbett Road should’ve been placed at Kismet and Northeast 24th Avenue. Gator Circle is booming and now an extremely dangerous intersection. We need the fully funded lane at Avrill to be completed ASAP.