WEEk Of JUNE 28, 2023
VOLUME 61, NUMBER 32
Event covers preparation, and more for storm season By TIFFANY REPECKI
trepecki@breezenewspapers.com
By TIFFANY REPECKI
trepecki@breezenewspapers.com
R
egistrations are still being taken for the 43rd annual 4th of July Sanibel Island Road Rally. Now organized by the Friends of Randy of Sanibel, it will kick off on July 4 at noon in the parking of Timbers Restaurant & Fish Market on Sanibel. In light of Hurricane Ian, this year's registration is open to about 25 vehicles, with the teams given dozens of questions then set off across the islands to find as many correct answers as possible. “It's basically a scavenger hunt in a vehicle,” Randy Carson, who cofounded FOROS with Allen Dunham and Tim Moore to take over the event
from the Sanibel Captiva Optimist Club, said. As of June 21, about half of the team slots had been filled. “There's spaces still available to register,” he said. This year's proceeds will benefit American Legion Post 123 on Sanibel in its storm recovery. “To assist and support their efforts helping veterans,” Carson said. The event is a visual scavenger hunt for answers to questions. Participants are provided with instructions, questions and driving directions and they must find the clues along the way. It is not a speed race. Teams should be safe and obey all traffic laws and the speed limits. “Remember, Sanibel is a sanctuary island still in recovery and reconstruction after Hurricane Ian,” he said, notSee ROAD RALLY, page 11
If you go What 43rd annual 4th of July Sanibel Island Road Rally Who Friends of Randy of Sanibel When July 4 starting at noon Where Timbers Restaurant & Fish Market, 703 Tarpon Bay Road, Sanibel Details Entry fee is $50 per vehicle
The city of Sanibel held its annual Hurricane Seminar last week featuring a panel of experts. Held on June 23 at ARTS on BIG Sanibel, it provided residents, businesses and island workers with information on preparing for, surviving through and recovering from a storm. Free and open to the community, the seminar consisted of a lineup of speakers, followed by a question-and-answer period. City Manager Dana Souza reported that in advance of the event, he reviewed last year's presentation and compared it to this year's presentation, which took into account the impacts See PREPARATION, page 12
IslanderInsIde
County board continues its consideration of proposals By TIFFANY REPECKI
trepecki@breezenewspapers.com
The Lee County Commission postponed considering proposed amendments to the Land Development Code and Lee Plan, which include changes for Captiva and the South Seas Island Resort, last week. At its June 20 meeting, the board voted unanimously 5-0 to continue its consideration of revisions to the Captiva Code within the LDC to its meeting on Sept. 5. As part of the motion, the commission also continued its consideration of changes to the
Captiva Community Plan within the Lee Plan that was planned for the Zoning and Comprehensive Plan Amendment on June 21 to the hearing set for Sept. 6. In addition, it asked staff to separate the island-related proposals from the rest for when it meets again. The Captiva Community Panel and Captiva Civic Association have briefly summarized the changes that relate to the island and resort within the amendments being proposed by county staffers as: ∫ Raises the permitted heights on
Captiva by 11 feet — allowing the construction of three-story buildings above base flood elevation. ∫ Exempts South Seas from Captiva's building height restrictions. ∫ Eliminates the three-units-per-acre density restrictions inside of South Seas, with no new density restrictions cited to replace them. ∫ Creates a path for South Seas to plan a new larger development with buildings up to 75 feet high. According to county staff, the See COUNTY BOARD, page 12
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