Cape Council deadlocks; golf course land use change fails again
Cape Coral City Council deadlocked 4-4 Monday night, effectively killing a proposed land use change for the old golf course site. The requested comp plan amendment will not be transmitted to the state for its consideration.
Voting in favor of transmitting the request to change the land use from “parks” to “residential” to match the zoning were council members Richard Leon, Rana Erbrick, Marilyn Stout and Jessica Cosden. Voting against were Mayor Marni Sawicki and council members Rick Williams, Jim Burch and John Carioscia.
The Council majority said the vote gives the city some leverage in future negotiations with the land owner, Florida Gulf Ventures. One option mentioned by at least two Council members was to open talks again for a possible land swap for other properties the city owns.
The city previously rejected a request to change the 175-acre site’s land use to “mixed.”
Save Our Recreation, a grass-roots organization started by neighboring property owners who want the property to remain “green,” opposed both requested comp plan amendments.