WEEK OF DECEMBER 11, 2024
VOLUME 63, NUMBER 4
Council moves roundabout on to design phase By TIFFANY REPECKI
trepecki@breezenewspapers.com
The Sanibel City Council voted to proceed with the design survey for a proposed roundabout at Periwinkle Way and Causeway Boulevard at its recent meeting, as well as was updated on the sand placement project at the Lighthouse Beach Park. On Dec. 3, city consultant Kimley-Horn and Associates gave a presentation on the Periwinkle Way and Causeway Boulevard Intersection Study, including its proposed plan and recommended next steps. The firm was hired to conduct an intersection evaluation and study for Periwinkle, Causeway and Lindgren Boulevard. The scope of work included completing traffic counts, turning movement counts, review of past intersection study recommendations, and an analysis of the causeway and capacity. According to city staff's report, the newly collected data — supplemented by the consultant's review of existing studies and reports related to the same intersection, and feedback received during the public engageSee COUNCIL, page 18
School PTA to host Holiday Movie Night On The Lawn By TIFFANY REPECKI
T
trepecki@breezenewspapers.com
he islands can wrap up the week and get in the spirit of the season with a flick on the big screen. The Sanibel School's Parent Teacher Association will host its Holiday Movie Night On The Lawn on Dec. 13 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. on the grounds of the island school. Free and open to
IslanderInsIde
the public, it will feature a showing of the movie “Arthur Christmas,” along with food truck offerings and concessions. “The holiday movie night is a tradition for us,” PTA Vice President and event chair Samantha Britt said. “We like to try to do givebacks throughout the year, especially for the community.” See HOLIDAY MOVIE NIGHT, page 18
County, CHR exploring CDBG-DR funding for project By TIFFANY REPECKI
trepecki@breezenewspapers.com
The Lee County Board of County Commissioners recently directed staff to work with Community Housing & Resources (CHR) to determine the viability of a proposed project for federal funds. At its Nov. 5 meeting, the county board voted 4-0 to authorize staff to engage with CHR to explore the viability of awarding up to $5 million in Community Development Block Grant — Disaster Recovery (CDBGDR) funds for CHR's proposed Spoonbill Preserve on Sanibel and to make a recommendation.
The action was part of the commission's consideration to approve 10 multi-family housing projects recommended by the CDBG-DR Affordable Housing Evaluation Committee to receive $170,750,877. County Manager Jeannie Sutton opened the agenda item by explaining that the county has allocated $150 million in CDBG-DR funding to support the new construction of affordable multi-family housing. In September, the board awarded just over $39 million to three of the projects that applied. When the evaluation committee met on Oct. 28, it heard presentations from the remaining eligible applicants. It considered
factors such as mix of housing types, number of awards per developer, geographic distribution, project readiness and technical review scores, then voted on the rankings. Sutton noted that if approved, the 10 projects would undergo a detailed underwriting process. If all requirements are filled, all recommended projects will be brought back before the commission. When the evaluation committee met, it also voted to recommend that the board consider letting staff engage with CHR to determine the viability of funding the proposed 20-unit Spoonbill Preserve. While the projSee FUNDING, page 20
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