On Nov. 19, the Lee County Hearing Examiner granted another extension to move the final arguments from the Eden Oak applicant and county staff from Dec. 11, 2020 to June 3, 2021. The continuance was requested by the applicant due to COVID-19 related travel restrictions to the U.S. from his residence in Canada.

This is the second continuance due to the COVID-19 travel restrictions and the tenth extension or continuance requested by the applicant or by staff since the zoning request was originally filed in December 2016. Click here to download the latest extension order.

The proposed Eden Oak development is on Shell Point Boulevard at the mouth of the Caloosahatchee near the Sanibel Causeway, as pictured here. The applicant’s proposal is to dredge and fill 36 acres of mangrove wetlands to build 55 residential home-sites with docks, including the excavation of a new canal and the creation of a boat basin with additional docks.

The plan will put more people in the coastal high hazard area, creates new sources of pollution from runoff, will create boat traffic in sensitive habitat used by a number of threatened and endangered species, and adds traffic to the evacuation and emergency access on Shell Point Boulevard.

In a parallel track on Eden Oak, the property owner has also nominated the property to be considered for purchase by the County’s Conservation 20/20 Land Acquisition Program. The property has cleared several steps in the process and has been recommended for purchase by both the County Land Acquisition and Stewardship Advisory Board and the Board of County Commissioners. County staff is in the midst of purchase negotiations with the property owner.

SCCF remains actively involved in advocating for the protection of the natural resources on this property and will continue to post updates on both the zoning case and the nomination to Conservation 20/20. Click here to sign up for our Action Alerts.