Cape Council to look at options for ‘replacing’ Yellow Fever Creek Preserve acreage
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Cape Coral City Council will discuss options to replace preservation land at Yellow Fever Creek the city plans to use for utility infrastructure.
Wednesday’s presentation focuses on two basic options - buying land or earmarking properties the city already owns for preservation.
Options that do not include a land purchase include converting property owned by the city to natural resources/preservation for future land use and zoning; establishing conservation easements on a city property via a land trust; establishing conservation easements on private land via a Land Trust or state agency, donation of land from private ownership already designated natural resources/preservation or donation of land from private ownership and converted to natural resources/preservation.
Options that include buying land include purchasing an existing conservation easement on a portion of property owned by a private owner; purchasing private land and converting its future land use and zoning to natural resources and preservation and purchasing private land with an existing/established conservation easement or natural resources, preservation designation.
City Council in April voted to reduce the 200-acre park and preservation site off the Del Prado extension by 14 acres for Utility Expansion Project infrastructure. The city plans to install water-storage storage tanks, a water pumping station and related equipment to provide water and sewer to the northeastern portion of the city.
Environmentalists and numerous members from the Village of Entrada community spoke at the April 2 meeting, expressing disapproval and unhappiness with the enabling ordinances. As they contended during earlier meetings, nearby property owners maintained the project will directly affect their homes and the animals at the preserve.
Residents said they while did not disagree with the need, as water is a necessity, they opposed the construction of four, 45-foot towers being built 200 feet from their backyard in what was designated as a preserve and was included in the city's $60 million parks master plan as such.
The acreage abuts Lee County's Yellow Fever Creek Preserve, a near 340-acre passive park that includes portions of the headwaters of the creek for which the preserves are named.
The county portion includes a 2.5-mile marked trail system that connects to a 3-acre pond for fishing.
The city, which owns two nearby sites, rejected those for the utility infrastructure as officials feared the project could hamper potential plans for economic development.
Other items on Wednesday's workshop agenda include the city administration's lean government initiative, City Council's regular meeting format, residential fill and public utility easement limitations and discussion for hurricane storm shutter regulations.
The meeting will begin at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 14, in City Council chambers, 1015 Cultural Park Blvd.
The meeting is open to the public.