Land‑development code reorganization advanced despite Captiva and conservation concerns

Adam Mendez, principal planner, presented companion land development code amendments that would relocate community‑specific regulatory detail into the appropriate chapters (zoning, environment) and remove duplicative or obsolete procedural language. "There are community specific policies in chapter 33 that relate to environmental and natural resource protection that are being taken and replaced in chapter 14 with the county wide standards," he said.

Environmental groups and Captiva representatives warned the LDC changes could allow higher intensity projects through planned developments, and urged the LPA not to forward the code changes until the plan/LDC crosswalk is clear. "Under a planned unit development, you are able to exceed the density and height restrictions that are currently protected by the historical nature restrictions under chapter 23 of the Lee plan," said Matt Palas of the Sanibel‑Captiva Conservation Foundation. Staff responded that residential density remains governed by future land use categories, that Captiva's 35‑foot height limit remains in place unless a PD demonstrates a high burden of proof, and that hotel density equivalencies remain tied to underlying future land use densities.

The LPA voted to forward the LDC amendments after discussion; staff and LPA members asked for precise crosswalks and clarifications on specific topics (e.g., county facilities exemptions, open space calculations, wireless facility review criteria).