Protect our Wetlands
in Cape Coral
Sponsored by
Concerned Citizens of Cape Coral
Our Current Mission
800 residential units,
300 hotel rooms,
38,000 square feet of commercial space
and a 200 slip marina.
The citizens of Cape Coral are very interested in discussing with the landowners or their agents the sale of their land to a conservation organization for fair negotiated settlement.
Updated on August 7, 2024
Notices
Link to the 90 minute July 8th Candidate Forum video hosted by League of Women Voters of Lee County on YouTube: Click Here
The Southwest Cape Coral Action Committee (SWCCAC) hosted a Cape Coral City Council Candidate Forum on Monday August 5, 2024, at the Cape Coral Library. Fourteen candidates were in attendance. You can review the 2 hour YouTube video: Click Here
As members of Protect Our Wetlands in Cape Coral, I know that you share our passion for opposing Redfish Pointe and electing City Council candidates who support our cause and the future conservation of the land. I would like to draw your attention to the upcoming Cape Coral City Council elections, where 10 candidates are vying for 5 seats.
As a representative of our organization, I reached out to all candidates via email with background information about Redfish Pointe and four questions, urging them to share their stance with us. I also provided the option for a freeform response.
To ensure all candidates received and were aware of my email letter, two of our core team members called the remaining and either spoke to them or left a message.
This candidate acknowledged receipt of my email but did not respond: Deborah McCormick.
You can review the responses to the questions using this link to the document on our website below.
My intention is to send one more update August 13. I will be updating the Response Page on the website as more responses are received.
Link to responses
Link to the email letter sent:
https://protectourwetlandsincapecoral.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Letter-to-Candidates-Final.docx
Link to requesting a sample ballot:
https://www.lee.vote/Voter-Resources/Check-My-Voter-Info
Link to Lee County BOE candidate list: https://www.lee.vote/Portals/Lee/Candidates%20and%20Political%20Committees/2024%20Candidate%20List/Muni%20Candidate%20List_070824.html?ver=6fLKZzuYODQf_y9kVdOpxg%3d%3d
Here are Links to the Cape Coral Breeze, who has been introducing the candidates running and posing questions to the candidates in each of the districts for your additional research. (links are the introductions and not to the questions- which you can research on your own)
District 3: https://www.capecoralbreeze.com/news/local-news/2024/07/01/meet-the-candidates-in-the-primary-election-for-city-council-in-district-3/
District 7: https://www.capecoralbreeze.com/news/local-news/2024/07/01/meet-the-candidates-in-the-general-election-for-city-council-in-district-7/
You will hear from speakers representing Climate Reality, Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation, Protect our Waters in Cape Coral, Florida Right to Clean Water, and SWFL EcoAlliance.
Please register for the event using this link: Click Here
Speakers will discuss how a constitutional right is critical to protecting our wetlands which in turn protect us from climate changes. When it comes to mitigating the causes and impacts of our changing climate, water is a superpower, and wetlands are particularly important. But protecting wetlands has become ever more difficult.
Learn the latest information about the proposed Redfish Pointe development in wetlands south of Rotary Park and why a constitutional right can protect these and other threatened wetlands.
We hope to see you there!
We had a successful event at the Burrowing Owl Festival -Wildlife and Environmental Expo! We were constantly engaged with interested residents and obtained over 250 signatures on our petition. We provided 9 Yard Signs and succeeded in raising community awareness. We also had an opportunity to speak to a council member.
Great Step Forward: Lee County Commissioners pasted a motion (5-0) to investigate acquiring Redfish Pointe under Conservatioin 20/20.
We had a booth at the Arts and Crafts Festival to raise community awareness. We had close to 400 people sign our petition and join our email list. It was a successful event. People who know about us were excited by our presence, confirmed their support and those who did not were eager to support us.
The City of Cape Coral will hold Elections in 2024 for Council Members in Districts 2, 3, 4, 5, and 7. We’re currently seeking passionate individuals committed to environmental stewardship to run for Cape Coral City Council.
The last remaining natural wetlands in our city face imminent threats from big development. We need candidates who share our values, ready to safeguard these vital ecosystems and shape a sustainable future for our community.
Your commitment can make a lasting impact—let’s work together to preserve our natural heritage.
We are a community organization representing approximately 8,400 voters in SW Cape Coral. Contact us at protectourwetlandsincapecoral@gmail.com
*** Please remember to share this post for a broader reach. ***
We had an excellent turnout, 138 residents attended, and we had three news outlets attend. WINK News, FOX4 and the Cape Coral Breeze. WINK News Clip — FOX4 News Clip – The Cape Coral Breeze Article. Last Friday the Cape Coral Breeze publish an article in advance of the event. The link to the article . All available seats were reserved. Here is the link to the recording on YouTube: Public Meeting December 5th 2023. The following were our speakers:
Wetlands Conservation Keynote speaker: Matt DePaolis, the Environmental Policy Director of Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation (SCCF). Matt has a master’s degree in marine biology and a law degree with certificates in environmental and ocean and coastal law from the University of Oregon. He shared his insights and expertise on wetland conservation and restoration.
Current Situation and History of Redfish Pointe Speaker: Paul Bonasia, Lead Coordinator for Protect Our Wetlands in Cape Coral team as well as Communicator and Webmaster. Paul spoke about the history of the property and current opposition. Link to presentation deck on YouTube: Current Situation and History of Redfish Pointe
Impacts to the Community of Redfish Pointe Speaker: Joseph Bonasia, the SWFL Regional Director of FloridaRightToCleanWater.org and Citizens’ Climate Lobby Volunteer Liaison to Senator Rick Scott’s office. Joe spoke about specific impacts from this proposed development and citizen desire to pursue purchase of this property. Link to presentation deck on YouTube: Impacts to the Community of Redfish Pointe
Parting thoughts and Upcoming Events Speaker: Ruth Hague, Media and News Coordinator for Protect Our Wetlands in Cape Coral.
We did invite the Cape Coral City Council & select Lee County Commissioners, but none were able to attend.
Veterans Day Parade
Thank you for all your efforts making the Cape Coral Veterans Day parade a success and honoring our veterans. Protect Our Wetlands in Cape Coral was honored to participate and look forward to attending next year’s parade.
Check out our new YouTube video: Save Our Wetlands in Cape Coral – Strom Protection and Flood Control
October Mail Campaign to City Council - We Surpassed our Goal!
NEW! The campaign is over and it was a big sucess. Our goal was to mail 500 letters to the Cape Coral City council members and I’m please to inform you that we have surpassed that goal! I want to thank the 70 supporters who mailed 560 letters. Our understanding is that letters legally need to be logged where emails do not. In the future, I’m confident that our supporters will step up and make their voices heard again.
Urgent: Yard Sign Warning
Code enforcement has removed some of our yard signs that were improperly placed. They must be 10 ft. from any property line. They cannot be in the right of way, medians, strip of grass between sidewalks and roads, nor can they be attached to street signs or light poles. Please move your sign if it meets any of these criteria. If you do not have a sidewalk place them 10 ft. from the road.
PROTEST MARCH HUGE SUCCESS
New! As you might be aware already the Protest March on the eve of the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Ian was a huge success! I was thrilled to see close to 90 residents show up in the RAIN to voice their opposition to Redfish Pointe. Residents came prepared with rain gear and umbrellas in one hand and an opposition sign in the other! I can only imagine if it was not raining, we might have had over 110 attend. Not only was it successful due to the great turnout but we had 5 news outlets attend: NBC2, FOX4, Cape Coral Breeze, News-Press, and WGCU PBS! It does not get better than that! You can see our protesters created quite a visual message during the 5-minute march to SW 6th Place along Rose Garden Road chanting and waving signs! We had 3 powerful speakers and held a Q&A session before marching back. All in the Rain! I thank all who attended and made this a huge success. We also had someone at the P&Z meeting that morning informing them of what was transpiring as they met.
Summary of City Staff Comments
Published Article in the Breeze: Cape Coral Staff comments on Redfish Pointe reflective of resident concerns August 17,2023 Joseph Bonasia Click Here
We are now on YouTube. I have posted our videos and several links to TV news articles and select City Council Meetings so that they are all in one place and easy to access. Click Here
Key Documents Page. I have posted links to key documents that have been obtained from public records request to the City of Cape Coral. You can find the link from the main menu or Click Here
City meetings to attend
Our strategy is to have residents speak at every meeting in opposition to Redfish Pointe. If you do not want to speak than attend. Wear a blue shirt, dress, or top to distinguish us as a group united.
Council General Meeting Calendar: Click Here
The Impacts
- The loss of critical wetlands, that buffer the city from storms, would raise the risk of flooding in adjacent residential areas. Lesser storms than Ian could cause the same level of flooding.
- Access to this property, that is essentially landlocked, would require the city to amend a conservation easement established by the Rotary Club and the city in 1987. A conservation easement is a legal agreement that permanently limits uses of the land in order to protect its conservation values. This is the key to blocking this project. Convince the city council not to grant access through city property.
- The resulting traffic increase on Pelican Blvd. potentially could result in expanding the number of lanes, removing the bike lanes and narrowing the median. Construction traffic alone could last 3 years.
- This site is currently zoned PRFLU (Preserve) and has a Future Land Use of PR (National Resource/Preservation). Owners would need to have their property rezoned.
- Dredging that would be required to create the 200-slip marina would have additional environmental impacts on the aquatic life of the Caloosahatchee River including manatees.
- The impact on all the wildlife that call that area home will be devastating. The development will eliminate approximately 100 acres of habitat for migratory and non-migratory birds, bobcats and coyotes, and a variety of other species. They are also breeding grounds for many amphibians, mollusks and crabs that support the delicate food chain. The construction would transverse the total property of 350 acres, making wildlife movement challenging.
- There would be significant impacts to Cape Coral’s infrastructure, utilities (roads, sewage, water, electrical), as well as services such as the fire and police departments.
Details
We oppose the Redfish Pointe development on wetlands in Cape Coral which will negatively impact the city’s storm protection, flood control, and wildlife.
Aerial View
South of Rotary Park lies privately owned land of mixed uplands and wetlands which historically has been called Piney Point. The developers have named their development Redfish Pointe, presumably not to confuse people with the Piney Point near Tampa Bay that had the wastewater spill.
The Location
Photo taken looking north. Along the riverbanks are mangrove forests. In the center are the uplands with a mix of different tree species. That is the proposed location of the buildings.
The developers plan to construct a road through city owned conservation land to gain access to the property
The road would transverse city property that extends along Rose Garden Road to Glover Bight Trail. There is in place a conservation easement created on July 29, 1991, by Lee County and Florida DEP that stretches across the whole property that states that the easement is for ”Forever” and specifically stipules “no roads can be built on this conservation easement”. This document is posted on our Documents page. The road would be constructed at the intersection of SW 6th Place, just south of the entrance to Rotary Park's parking lot on Rose Garden Road, and proceed to their north property line, then head east to the eastern edge of their property.
17 Buildings in total are planned
- Two (2) 16 Story Residential Level High-rise buildings with over 3 levels of parking. Each Building to have 150 units. Total of 300 units. (Hotel)
- Eight (8) 3 Story Residential Level Low-rise Buildings with over 1 level of parking. Each building to have 24 residential units. Total of 192 units.
- Six (6) 6 Story Residential Mid-Rise buildings with over 1 level of parking. Each building to have 48 residential units. Total of 288 units.
- A building with 38,000 square feet of commercial space for restaurants and shops.
Source: Documents obtained in a Public Records Request
Wetlands Provide Habitat
for many species
Wetlands support a variety of species including migratory and non-migratory birds. They are also breeding grounds for many amphibians, mollusks and crabs that support the delicate food chain.
Pictured: Bobcat, Coyote, Mangrove Cuckoo, Brown Pelican, Great Blue Heron, Ibis, Tree Frog, Banded Water Snake, Rabbit, Mangrove Snapper, Mangrove Tree Crab. All are inhabitants of this area. Not pictured: the following also inhabit these wetlands: racoons, opossums, mangrove saltmarsh snake, green herons, grey fox, marsh rabbits, cormorants, and anhingas.
Rose Garden Road Flooded
IN the News
Cape Coral Breeze June 2, 2023 Opinion- Preserve Redfish Pointe
Cape Coral residents, many still recovering from Hurricane Ian, should oppose the Redfish Pointe development in the wetlands directly south of Rotary Park. Current zoning wisely calls for this land to be preserved.
Naples Daily News (Opinion) May 7, 2023
Lesson from Ian: Protect the wetlands that protect us: Large Cape development proposed in area of mangroves, mixed wetlands
Wink News: Research indicates climate change posing problems for Cape Coral
Frequency and magnitude of flooding to increase in Cape Coral. Studies planned.
The Importance of Wetlands
Residents of Palm Harbour recall Hurricane Ian and the importance of wetlands
News-Press: Climate change and Hurricanes: Cape Coral singled out in new study. What we know
As terrible as Hurricane Ian was for so many of us in Southwest Florida, a new study reveals one part of the geography here will be more vulnerable than other locations in the future as the climate continues to change.
NBC2: Neighbors aim to purchase historical Cape Coral golf course after buyer cancels contract for sale. June 19, 2023
The community’s battle against developing Hunters' Run Golf Course has caused the buyer/developer to pull out of the deal. The sheer amount of people who went to the City Council meetings coupled with their web site, yard signs, emails, and petition to City Council members has resulted in the buyer not wanting to risk litigation. Envision our efforts ending like this!
New! We are now on YouTube. I have posted our videos and several links to TV news articles and select City Council Meetings so that they are all in one place and easy to access. Click Here
