Plans to Change the Peaceful Isles of Capri Life We Know

If you’ve been reading the news, talking to neighbors and monitoring the local grapevines, you probably already know about the controversy that is stalking the residents of a small, intimate community just north of Marco Island.

Isles of Capri is a laid-back community of neighbors who are, in fact, neighborly, who look out for each other and give informal news to a community newsletter, which is emailed to all the folks signed up to receive it. You’ll find information about rentals, events, yard sales, pets to adopt and more. The epitome of neighborly. 

Neighbors turn out in force for Capri Events, like the Halloween Celebration focused on games, fun and a movie for the Capri Kids. There’s a hayride, candy, photo ops and the costumed adults have as much fun as the kids. Not to mention the fire truck leading the parade!

Next on the community agenda is the Christmas golf cart parade, a huge favorite for young and old. The golf carts are decked out for the holidays with lights and music and ho-ho-ho-ing as the parade winds up and down the streets of Capri. Merry Christmas greetings flow back and forth from the decorated carts to the appreciative audiences. 

The Annual Isles of Capri Yard Sale is a huge draw for friends and neighbors near Capri and some drive from much farther. It’s always the last Saturday in January and those who have attended even once are addicted! There are treasures throughout the community and the prices are reasonable, really. Next up, the St. Patrick’s Day Pub Crawl on March 17th. This is another event where participants can drive their golf carts, bicycles or walk from one of our four excellent restaurants to another to celebrate the “wearing o’ the green.”

The Isles of Capri Community Center is the gathering place for community meetings and special events like Wednesday’s Bingo, which brings in a spirited crowd that enjoys $1 hot dogs and snacks. 

The officers and board members are cheerleaders/leaders for the community and include Joyce Beatty, President; RJ Cady, Vice President; Matt Crowder, Secretary; Jeri Neuhaus, Treasurer; Board Members, Paul Westberry, Shauna Fernandez, Sam Pankhurst, and Dick Maxwell. The Isles also has a monthly newspaper that is delivered by volunteers to each residence. 

The final community event for this season will be a Poker Run to raise funds for the Capri Community’s efforts to keep the zoning of the only green space on Capri as a 3C designation instead of changing it to PUD zoning. Golf carts, bicycles, motorcycles, runners and walkers can participate in this event, which will have a participation fee to help defray the attorneys’ fees.

The Fiddler’s Creek Community (FCC) corporation has purchased the only green space left on Isles of Capri. Their intent is to build three-168-foot condominiums near the Johnson Bay waterway, which would effectively block the view where Isles residents purchased property and houses to savor the peace and quiet. Included in the plans are a 200-seat restaurant, not open to the public, including a ship’s store and commercial space, all of which are incompatible with the surrounding community of homes, the majority one and two story. 

The decision will be presented to the Planning Board and then to the County Commissioners. Approval to rezone from C3 to PUD will require a four to one positive vote. If passed, the whole construction project will change to be even more dense, with additional retail spaces and intrusion into the lifestyle of Isles of Capri families who have bought property and houses and lived there for decades. 

If you were in the shoes of the Isles of Capri residents, where would you stand? Would you allow major changes that would impact your quality of life and the dream that you bought many years ago? If you want to help our humble community, send your objections to the County Commissioners - you never know if you’ll be in the same boat down the road.