Some SE Cape Coral neighbors fear rezoning would open door to bigger developments

Southeast Cape Coral neighbors say they’re bracing for major changes on their block and for traffic they believe could get much worse, if the city council approves a rezoning request Wednesday afternoon.The owners of 1620 SE 46th St. are asking the city to rezone the property to “Downtown Mixed” so it matches the lot next door, that’s currently being demolished. If approved, both parcels could be merged and sold together as a larger development site.Neighbors fear that change could open the door to taller buildings, even six-story condos, and make traffic problems worse for homeowners off Orchid Boulevard and Del Prado.“The odds are very high that it’ll be a high-rise condo building,” said neighbor Dave Luczak, who has lived off Orchid Boulevard for nearly five years. “You have Monarcas with the restaurant and their patrons parking on 46th Street, it’s always very crowded. I think it could become an absolute safety hazard for any biking or walking individuals.”Neighbors argue the properties were left to fall apart over time, and now that deterioration is being used as leverage for a zoning change. Some neighbors say they’re not against new development … As long as it’s done responsibly.”I wouldn’t mind, you know, maybe a duplex or a low-density type of building where they could pull cars and it wouldn’t clog up the neighborhood,” said Frank Callari, another neighbor off Orchid Boulevard.But the owners’ attorney, Scott Hertz, says fears of a six-story condo tower are exaggerated. While “Downtown Mixed” zoning allows for more height, Hertz says the lots simply aren’t big enough to support the kind of high-rise neighbors are imagining.“You couldn’t build something like The Cove,” he told Gulf Coast News. “You don’t have the physical space. I think you could build a, probably, a two or three-story building, but not much more.”Hertz says the owners aren’t proposing a specific building at all. They only want both properties aligned under the same zoning before putting them on the market, and many of the surrounding lots are already zoned for “Downtown Mixed.”Still, neighbors say once the zoning changes, what gets built here becomes fully up to a future developer.The Cape Coral City Council is scheduled to vote on the rezoning on Wednesday at 4 p.m., and neighbors say they plan to show up to voice their concerns.DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.

CAPE CORAL, Fla. —

Southeast Cape Coral neighbors say they’re bracing for major changes on their block and for traffic they believe could get much worse, if the city council approves a rezoning request Wednesday afternoon.

The owners of 1620 SE 46th St. are asking the city to rezone the property to “Downtown Mixed” so it matches the lot next door, that’s currently being demolished. If approved, both parcels could be merged and sold together as a larger development site.

Neighbors fear that change could open the door to taller buildings, even six-story condos, and make traffic problems worse for homeowners off Orchid Boulevard and Del Prado.

“The odds are very high that it’ll be a high-rise condo building,” said neighbor Dave Luczak, who has lived off Orchid Boulevard for nearly five years. “You have Monarcas with the restaurant and their patrons parking on 46th Street, it’s always very crowded. I think it could become an absolute safety hazard for any biking or walking individuals.”

Neighbors argue the properties were left to fall apart over time, and now that deterioration is being used as leverage for a zoning change. Some neighbors say they’re not against new development … As long as it’s done responsibly.

“I wouldn’t mind, you know, maybe a duplex or a low-density type of building where they could pull cars and it wouldn’t clog up the neighborhood,” said Frank Callari, another neighbor off Orchid Boulevard.

But the owners’ attorney, Scott Hertz, says fears of a six-story condo tower are exaggerated. While “Downtown Mixed” zoning allows for more height, Hertz says the lots simply aren’t big enough to support the kind of high-rise neighbors are imagining.

“You couldn’t build something like The Cove,” he told Gulf Coast News. “You don’t have the physical space. I think you could build a, probably, a two or three-story building, but not much more.”

Hertz says the owners aren’t proposing a specific building at all. They only want both properties aligned under the same zoning before putting them on the market, and many of the surrounding lots are already zoned for “Downtown Mixed.”

Still, neighbors say once the zoning changes, what gets built here becomes fully up to a future developer.

The Cape Coral City Council is scheduled to vote on the rezoning on Wednesday at 4 p.m., and neighbors say they plan to show up to voice their concerns.

DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.