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Volunteers, residents press Cape Coral to keep community fridge after citation; council and staff outline zoning and temporary options
Summary
Volunteer operators and users of a community refrigerator at SE 47th Terrace urged the council to allow or formalize the pantry after a recent code citation; staff described zoning barriers and temporary options, and councilors and city management committed to discuss practical temporary measures while owners consider a zoning application.
Multiple residents and volunteer operators urged the Cape Coral City Council on March 25 to reverse or ease a code citation issued for a volunteer‑run community refrigerator, saying the device provides emergency food access to residents — including veterans and people experiencing food insecurity — and asking for a temporary fix while zoning or other long‑term solutions are pursued.
Dion Lopez, the volunteer organizer who operates the refrigerator and freezer, said volunteers prepare meals and leave food at the site several times a week and that the pantry had served the community for years. She said she received a citation instructing her to remove outdoor equipment and asked the city to work with volunteers on a solution rather than enforcement. “I’m feeding the community,” she said in public comment.
City staff responded that the current commercial zoning for the location does not allow the style of outdoor storage represented by the refrigerator, and that a zoning change initiated by a private property owner would be the usual path to a permanent resolution. The city manager and Council Member Leman said staff had explored temporary options, contacted local nonprofits and businesses, and sought potential short‑term placements for the fridge while longer processes (zoning changes) proceed.
Council members and staff also explained a statewide pause on city‑initiated rezoning actions, meaning the property owner would need to file for any zoning change rather than the city initiating it. Staff said they would continue outreach to identify interim host locations with appropriate zoning and would work with the owner to find a workable solution.
Beyond the fridge, public commenters also raised broader concerns about responsiveness and consistency in building and code enforcement; several urged the council to create a permit or code category that would allow volunteer food‑distribution refrigerators citywide under clear standards. Council members acknowledged the requests and said staff would follow up; several suggested drafting a code amendment or special use framework to accommodate community‑run food pantries.
