PUNTA GORDA — Dozens of residents, business leaders and regional planners gathered at a city workshop to give input on proposed updates to Punta Gorda’s land development regulations, saying the rules must protect the city’s character while allowing new housing and commercial activity.

The most repeated message came from Isaac James, president-elect of the Punta Gorda Chamber of Commerce, who told the council the city risks hampering its future if regulations are written to “freeze Punta Gorda in time.” He said the Chamber, speaking for more than 700 local businesses, wants rules that protect the city’s charm but also “encourage responsible growth” so employers can hire and young professionals can afford to live and work in the city.

Consultants from the Central Florida Regional Planning Council and the Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council framed the meeting as a listening session. Jennifer Coda Salisbury said the event was a kickoff to align the land development code with the city’s comprehensive plan and collect public feedback on housing, transportation, economic development and resiliency. “We are here in a listening role,” she said.

Report-outs from breakout groups underscored multiple, sometimes competing priorities. Several groups emphasized retaining Punta Gorda’s small‑town downtown and supporting mom‑and‑pop businesses, while also urging more commercial activity to broaden the tax base. Rick Perry, summarizing one table, said participants opposed higher‑density residential development downtown and instead advocated for commercial or mixed‑use projects that would attract evening activity.

Flooding, stormwater and seawater intrusion were recurring concerns. Frank Conte and other table speakers noted environmental declines in Charlotte Harbor — “the seagrass is gone. The horseshoe crabs are gone,” Conte said — and urged coordination with county and regional partners to address upstream sources of pollution. Several attendees raised stormwater drainage and downtown flooding as barriers to new investment.

Infrastructure capacity also drew attention. Reporters at the table discussions raised questions about sewer and water system capacity tied to new developments and the cost of system upgrades. One participant noted planned water and wastewater investments of about $200,000,000 over the next five years and asked how much additional growth the upgraded systems can handle.

Residents and business representatives identified other practical issues for code updates: parking shortages downtown, narrow historic streets that limit traffic capacity and the need for clearer, more stable LDRs so developers can rely on rules during multi‑year projects. Bill Comber urged the city to make LDRs more predictable and to work closely with the economic development office to attract the “right” businesses.

City staff and consultants said they will compile the breakout feedback and written surveys into a summary for council review and reconvene a follow-up workshop in mid‑January to early February. Staff encouraged anyone who did not complete a survey to email Rachel Berry and to share the survey results with staff.

The council did not take votes or make policy changes during the workshop; it convened in a listening capacity and will hold formal discussions and potential decisions on a future council agenda.