Prioritize residents over developers
To the editor:
Last Wednesday, Sept. 23, at the council workshop the Cape Coral City Council vote to begin talks with developers about a possible partnership for the Yacht Club Community Park rebuild.
The elected board determined to proceed with the proposal submitted by KMB Marine and its operational subsidiary, Yacht Clubs of the Americas. The proposal does not appear to prioritize public accessibility.
A hotel represents an unsuitable solution. This location was previously a public park that included a pier and a modest beach area accessible to all residents of the community. This decision is intended to be non-binding regarding commitment to a specific direction, project, or plan. However, examination of previous votes on comparable projects reveals a concerning pattern.
Our mayor and city council have a duty to safeguard what makes our community special and prevent developers from changing the character of the city. What truly counts is what the people who live here actually want and need. Most folks in our neighborhood are hoping for useful features like the pier, a boat launch, waterfront dining spots, clean restrooms, and a community center with an appropriately sized pool. We also need to maintain ground-level parking as a foundation for future growth.
Some residents worry that public opinion won’t really sway city council choices. Now that this proposal is on the table, the council seems to have already picked the option that fits their own vision. After that, they’ll talk about public access while charging hefty parking and amenity costs. They might offer small discounts to residents just to seem thoughtful.
This is fundamentally a residential neighborhood, yet longtime residents don’t seem to be getting enough consideration. The right approach would be to finish the marina work, complete the beach restoration, bring back the Boathouse Restaurant, rebuild the pier, and maybe add a small community space with a kitchen that can handle around 300 people-like the original building that used to be here.
But it looks like the council cares less about what the people want — it’s the developers that matter as in the past!
Lou Walker
Cape Coral