Sans Souci site prime for 20/20 purchase
To the editor:
An open letter to the Cape Coral City Council:
The vote to approve the San Souci development will soon be before you. Why not look at alternatives such as persuading the land owners ask the county to buy their land under Lee County’s 20/20 plan? This would enable a recreational area and upgrade to the trails to the beach area. Thus, Cape Coral would have a beach to use for generations to come. We would have more green space, too.
Some of the reasons why the proposed intensive development should not be approved:
– The majority of people in the NW Cape who would have to live with the impact of this project do not want it. Over 1,200 of them signed a petition asking that it be stopped. The Sierra Club Calusa Group with over 1,400 members does not support it, nor does the Responsible Growth Management Coalition. Add the Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife to the non-supporting groups.
– Controlled burns by 20/20 in the surrounding lands will mean that the potential residents will have to endure the smoke – and I am sure they will complain to you.
– The Charlotte Harbor Estuary Conservation group is against this intensive development. They believe it will ruin the serenity of their estuary lands and great beach. Who wants a beach with a 17-story condo towering above it? Add the noise and traffic that will be generated and you ruin the attraction of the estuary.
Most of all, why are some councilmen eager to revive a project that was, for very good reasons, turned down? It appears that they wish to pave Cape Coral from one end to the other. Are they trying to start another boom/bust cycle? We are still trying to recover from the last reckless building spree.
Condo projects similar to this have been foreclosed in the county. Do you want Cape Coral forced to provide utilities and services to a condo with one lone family living in it? The illusion of jobs/tax revenue is like chasing a rainbow and finding a pot of rocks. Growth does not pay for itself.
We need pristine beaches, scrub jays, gopher tortoises and other wild animals for all to enjoy. We should have the luxury of a more rural, open northwest Cape, not wall to wall people. There are Florida panthers on the surrounding lands. Did you know that Pine Island has four documented Florida panthers? People have seen panthers near this proposed development, too.
Why pave all of Cape Coral over? This is about the last rural lands left in our city. Save them for our children and generations to come as well as for the wildlife..
The water and sewer for this community in Lee County is supposed to be done by Charlotte County as proposed by the developers. Do you really believe the Lee County Commissioners will let this happen? I do not think so. Lee County will want its own contractors to do this project..
This development is in a high hazard coastal area flood and hurricane zone. It should not be built for this reason alone. Please call your council person and tell him not to approve the San Souci development. . The phone number is 574-0436.
Carl Veaux
Cape Coral