Residents Fight to “Save Our Capri” from Proposed Development

They came by bus and they showed up via Zoom. Isles of Capri residents came to the County’s South Regional Library on May 19th to show support for their Save our Capri campaign which is fighting proposals to build three 168-foot high-density towers in the middle of their business center. Also in attendance at the Neighborhood Information Meeting (NIM) were members of the county planning staff.

At issue is the zoning of the proposed development property. Currently the 5.32 acres is zoned C-3 commercial. Developers want to change that to a mixed used planned unit development (PUD) to accommodate the three towers and up to 108 condominiums. As evidenced by the “Save our Capri” t-shirts with “No Rezoning” all in caps on the back, locals attending were not in favor of the development. 

Attorney Rich Yovanovich, representing developer FCC Beach & Yacht, LLC, said that the proposed residential towers would create less traffic than the current C-3 zoning that allows retail stores. Capri residents took issue with this statement with Matt Crowder, Capri Community, Inc. (CCI) secretary saying, “we feel like you have given us a choice between something we hate, and something we hate even worse.” Residents also questioned Yovanovich’s statement that the towers would not impact anyone’s views.

Comments from Capriers ranged from suggestions on what else to build on the property to a plea to deny the rezoning. Joyce Beebe, president of CCI brought the room to its fee when she asked all who opposed the rezoning to stand.

The first step is for the county’s planning commission to review the project, with Yovanovich indicating they would be submitting that info to the county within the next two weeks. After that, the planning commission will make its recommendations to the commissioners. A super majority of four commissioners out of five is needed for the rezoning to be approved.