Protect the Marco Vision

Marco Island was planned, permitted and developed initially by the Mackle brothers as a residential community with a clearly and narrowly defined tourism and commercial district. That vision remained intact even after the demise of the Deltona Corporation, and our zoning districts, land development code and comprehensive plan, among other governing documents, still reflect that reality. 
Tourism has always been important to the island. It provides tax revenues, jobs, and income streams to many of our commercial enterprises. Tourism is what brought most of us here to this area in the first place. When you live here, you just learn to adjust your activities and lifestyle as necessary during “season,” and that’s fine. But ultimately, protecting the city’s small-town charm, established residential neighborhoods and natural resources is supposed to be at the core of our local government actions, and our governing documents are quite clear in that regard. 
Over the last few years, certain members of our City Council have decided, for whatever reason, that all of Marco Island should be an ever-expanding tourism and commercial venue. Owner-occupied residences that make up most of the island are merely an inconvenience. One Council member with the worst track record in this regard is currently running for re-election with the slogan “protecting our past, preserving our future.” That’s akin to Kamela Harris telling us she now strongly supports a closed border. In both cases, believe their actions over the last four years, not the current slogans.