South Seas Island Resort and Timbers Resorts have confirmed everyone's worst fears – it has always been about more hotel rooms and condos. It’s always been about density.

South Seas Island Resort’s true intentions were made clear just days after Lee County commissioners approved the sweeping changes to the Lee Plan and Land Development Code. The resort’s rezoning application seeks more than 700 hotel rooms and condos, a significant increase from the current 247 units – especially when this was supposedly never about density. The resort also plans to build up to 64 feet, towering over all other buildings on Captiva.

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“The new land development regulations and the increases in heights and density sought by South Seas are totally inconsistent with Captiva’s current infrastructure, its limited hurricane evacuation capability, and its environmental resources,” said James Evans, CEO of Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation. “Captiva is a fragile barrier island which cannot absorb the development projects sought by South Seas. The community has no choice but to contest these unwise and unacceptable changes in the court of law.” 

Representing the Protect Captiva coalition which was established in June 2023, the Captiva Civic Association (CCA) filed a petition with Lee County on Jan. 8th 2024, challenging the new land development regulations that increase building heights on Captiva, and building heights and hotel density on South Seas Island Resort. 

“The communities of Captiva and Sanibel came out in force and tried everything possible to convince the Board of County Commissioners to maintain the long-established height and density regulations that protect our fragile barrier island,” said CCA and Protect Captiva representative Lisa Riordan. “The Commissioners completely ignored their constituency – giving us no choice but to commence litigation.” 

The Protect Captiva Coalition was established in June 2023 by concerned citizens and organizations in opposition to increasing building height and density and opening the door for hundreds of new hotel rooms on Captiva Island. Their coalition includes more than 13,000 residents, organizations, and other individuals who are opposed to this shortsighted plan that will forever change the character and safety of Captiva. If this issue is as important to you as it is to us at Pfeifer Realty Group, please visit https://protectcaptiva.org to learn more and get involved.