Isles of Capri Celebrates August With a Family Themed Picnic

Weeks of planning by dedicated Isles of Capri residents and officers of Isles of Capri, Inc. came to fruition on Saturday, August 20th at the Capri Community Center from Noon to 4:00 PM for music, comradery, and great food. Attendees were anxious to visit and reconnect, share stories of their vacations and partake of the home-made dishes brought to share along with tons of fresh fruit, salads, free hamburgers and hot dogs with the usual fixin’s. Not to mention the homemade meatballs and ziti – wowza! Families were welcome and children enjoyed themselves with various playground attractions. The children particularly enjoyed the sheet cake and its icing.

The music playing as you arrived was welcoming after the long, hot summer, which still continues, I might add, as if those of us here hadn’t noticed. Sitting under the canopies in the shade provided relief from the heat and a chance to relax, sing, talk, catch up and enjoy the get-together.

Isles of Capri clothing, caps, koozie holders (for beverages) shirts of many styles with the Isles of Capri flag adorning them and much more were available for purchase. Sales were steady and donations are always welcome. There were opportunities to pay the Isles of Capri dues, which are $50 per household, for the year. Some Condominium Associations pay a lump sum for their residents - be sure to check on that. Being a member has advantages as the money pays for maintenance, beautification, participation in the world-famous All-Island Isles of Capri Yard Sale and special community events.

There was another reason to assemble community members and that was to update them about the upcoming Public Hearings. There are three prominent signs posted along the only main street on Isles of Capri, Capri Boulevard, so it’s hard to miss them. There are two upcoming dates for meetings and residents are encouraged to attend and express their opinions to the request for a change of zoning on Isles of Capri from C-3, which is what the rest of Isles is zoned, to highly increased density. In fact from no more than three units (Dwelling Units/Acre) DUA’s to their proposed 20 DUA’s, which is a 667% increase. That is not a typo. The request for change of zoning will be the topic of the meetings at the Government Center on September 1 at 10:00 AM with the Collier County Planning Commission (CCPC) and October 11 at 9:00 AM with the Board of County Commissioners (BCC). Both meetings will be held in the County Commissioners Board Room on the third floor of the Government Center, 3299 East Tamiami Trail, Naples.

Our designated County Commissioner, Rick LoCastro, paid an informal visit to a gathering at Pelican Bend recently, one of the renowned restaurants on Isles of Capri, to meet the island residents and have candid conversations about their concerns.

Isles of Capri is known for its “laid-back” atmosphere, safe environment, child-friendly park and events, Bocce teams, boating, fishing, golf-cart parades, Halloween activities for the kids and much more. It’s a very quiet, engaged community with people who go out of their way for others. Fun and doing good things for others – that’s Isles of Capri.