Seven Island Public Hearing set for Wednesday
The first public hearing for the long-anticipated Seven Islands is set for Wednesday.
Cape Coral City Council will discuss the proposed development agreement with Gulf Gateway Resort & Marina LLC which will establishe the terms and conditions for the development of the manmade “hammerhead islands” at 606 Old Burnt Store Road North and 106/200 Old Burnt Store Road North.
As proposed, the project will include a community center, hotel and marina.
The hotel as proffered will be “a 10-story hotel/resort with 150 to 300 rooms and parking providing no less than 70 spaces available to the general public.” The hotel shall also include no less than 19,000 square feet of meeting space.
The community center shall contain at least 16,500 square feet, associated parking, amphitheater, dog park, splash pad, kayak launch, vessel slips and docks, sidewalks and pedestrian and golf cart bridge connecting islands six and island seven.
The marina will include 39 vessel slips, pilings, seawall and bulkhead, a 2,106 square foot dockmaster building, at least two fuel pumps with gas and diesel fuel available for purchase and an electric shore power, water, and pump-out facility to serve the vessels docking and visiting the marina.
The property, which is zoned mixed-use Seven Islands Zoning District, currently permits multi-family residences, single-family residences, public parks and creational facilities, marinas, bars and brewpubs, restaurants without a drive-thru, hotels, retail, professional offices, personal services, community centers and mixed-use buildings.
The economic incentives for the project from the city include $2,500,000, which is immediately available upon timely completion of various milestones. Those include $1 million within 30 days after issuance of a certificate of completion for the marina; $1 million within 30 days after the issuance of the certificate of occupancy for the hotel – but may be reduced if the hotel has less than 240 rooms; and $500,000 within 30 days after the issuance of the certificate of occupancy for the community center.
To receive these incentives, the marina shall be completed no later than eight years from the closing date, the hotel no later than 10 years and the community center no later than six years. If not met, the incentives will be reduced by 10% for each year it remains not completed.
The second and final public hearing will be set for Jan. 21.
There are also many consent items on Wednesday’s council agenda.
Among the items on the consent agenda for the first meeting of 2026 is Resolution 10-26, an award request for a proposal to H.W. Lochner, Inc. for the construction, engineering, and inspection services for the construction of sidewalks on both sides of Andalusia Boulevard and the west side of Skyline Boulevard. The award is not to exceed $378,544.09.
The total contract duration is set at 330 calendar days from the notice to proceed issuance.
In May 2024, the council adopted a resolution that approved a Local Agency Program agreement with the Florida Department of Transportation for the construction and construction engineering inspection for sidewalks. The grant amount approved was $1,045,764 with a completion date of Dec. 31, 2029.
Council is expected to vote on Resolution 14-26, which is to approve the State of Florida, Department of Transportation Sub-Grant Award Project through the University of North Florida Institute of Police Technology and Management for the Drug Recognition Expert Call-Out Program in the amount not to exceed $6,000.
The program is used for call-out overtime expenses for Drug Recognition Experts conducting investigations for drivers under the influence.
There is another resolution, 15-26, on the consent agenda for grant funding for the Victims of Crime Services Programs from the State of Florida, Department of Legal Affairs, Office of the Attorney General for $127,138. The funds will pay a percentage of the two victim assistance advocates personnel costs.
The Cape Coral City Council meeting will be held at 4 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 7, in Council Chambers, 1015 Cultural Park Blvd. The meeting is open to the public.