Captiva

Stephen Hatchet and his wife Crystal salvage what they can on Thursday (9/29/22) after Hurricane Ian destroyed their mobile home in Suncoast Estates in North Fort Myers. Hundreds of families in Suncoast have been displaced by the hurricane.

Hurricane Recovery

Resiliency group formed after Hurricane Ian offering workshop on elevating homes and businesses

Eileen Kelley

Homeowners who have elevated their homes after hurricanes in Florida will share experiences. All welcome.

Government & Politics

Proponents of Captiva's low density, height limits square off with county in court Tuesday

Eileen Kelley

At issue are changes Lee County's government made to the Land Development Code freeing South Seas from density and height limits.

Environment

Special election May 21 on bond for Captiva beach renourishment

WGCU Staff

Captiva residents will vote in a special election Tuesday on a referendum concerning beach renourishment.The bond referendum up for a vote seeks to approve the Captiva Erosion Prevention District ability to finance beach nourishment for up to $25 million.

Top Story

Florida Rep. Adam Botana no longer pushing for Captiva Conservation Area designation

Eileen Kelley

Representative says he's taking a wait and see approach

Demolition has begun on the South Seas Island Resort Hotel on Captiva Island. The new owners presented plans for much higher buildings with more rooms to be built on the land. Local residents, like Ken Suarez, are prepared to fight.

Government & Politics

Spurred by South Seas plans to rebuild a very large resort, Captiva Civic Association takes first step in civil case against county

Eileen Kelley

The Board of Count Commissioners recently released South Seas resort from the shackles that preserve the charm of the barrier island

Despite a record number of sea turtle nests on Florida beaches in 2023, remaining shoreline damage from 2022’s Hurricane Ian, overwashed beaches from 2023's Hurricane Idalia, and record-setting high temperatures on land and in the ocean last summer combined to turn a promising start to the nesting season into a bleak reproductive cycle in Southwest Florida

Environment

Promising start to sea turtle nesting season ends in disappointment

Tom Bayles

Imagine the surprise felt by sea turtle lovers when the number of egg-filled clutches laid on Southwest Florida beaches during last summer’s nesting season totaled a normal year despite shorelines transformed by Hurricane Ian.Even better: The mommas kept coming.Female sea turtles often return to the beach of their birth to nest every three years or so, which made understandable the fears of the large and active cadre of turtle volunteers that Category 5 Ian in September 2022 had rendered nesting beaches so unrecognizable the females would be lost, search aimlessly, then dump their eggs at sea.

Ken Suarez owns condos on the South Seas property. Several taller buildings and a water park has been proposed to be built on the land around his building. “All the buildings now are not higher than the trees,” Suarez said. “If what was proposed is built, the buildings will be higher than the trees.” Demolition has begun on the South Seas Island Resort Hotel on Captiva Island. The new owners presented plans for much higher buildings with more rooms to be built on the land. Local residents, like Ken Suarez, are prepared to fight.

Hurricane Recovery

South Seas resort wants to quadruple the number of hotel rooms, build 270 condominiums

Eileen Kelley

For decades, South Seas Island resort has been bound to the same set of strict density and height restrictions as the rest of Captiva Island in unincorporated Lee County. Until recently, when the Lee County Board of County commissioners exempted the resort from such restrictions. Residents now believe their worst fears could come true.

Family owned Captiva Cruises celebrated its return after effects from Hurricane Ian with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and boat tour. The cruise excursion service has operated on Captiva Island since 1986.

Government & Politics

Lack of height language could pave way for much taller buildings on Captiva

Eileen Kelley

Commission vote on removing height language from code has islanders roiled; Litigation and state legislation expected

Government & Politics

Upset islanders expected to fill Lee County chamber Wednesday. Will Lee County leaders listen this time?

Eileen Kelley

Lee County leaders are planning to do away with language that currently restrict heights of homes on Captiva Island to two-stories. Islanders fear the charm will be lost and they will be in harm's way as more people pack onto the island.

Lawn watering uses the most water in Southwest Florida, thus ensuring that sprinklers are working correctly and not running during banned hours is especially important during drought conditions

Top Story

Tom Bayles

Residents of Sanibel, and north Cape Coral, are being reminded about the drought unfolding in coastal Southwest Florida and to stick to the water restrictions.