Cape population booms

Rapid growth has impact throughout county

By JEFF CULL, jcull@news-press.com
 Published by news-press.com on June 24, 2004

Cape Coral continues to fuel the engine that powers Southwest Florida’s unprecedented growth.

It’s now the fifth fastest-growing city in the nation, up from ninth last year, for cities with populations greater than 100,000. A U.S. Census Bureau report released today said the Cape grew 5.8 percent during the 12-month period ending July 1, 2003, to 118,737 people. City officials estimate that the Cape’s current population is 131,264. But it’s not just the Cape that’s struggling to build new roads and parks and utilities to serve a horde of newcomers. All of Lee County is feeling the pinch of the Cape’s growth. “Our residents commute to other parts of the county to work,” said Cape Coral City Councilwoman Gloria Tate. “They need the county roads.” Nearly 90,000 vehicles cross the two toll bridges to Fort Myers every day. Most of the commuters are heading to work or to shop or eat out. Cape officials estimate more than 60 percent of the city’s work force travels outside the Cape to earn a living. That’s nearly 40,000 people. “All of this is causing a huge issue for us,” said Fort Myers City Councilwoman Tammy Hall, whose city grew 2.8 percent in the same period. Cape commuters are stressing the road networks not only in Fort Myers but throughout Lee County, she said. That makes it imperative that road issues be viewed on a regional basis and not just city by city. Wayne Daltry, Lee County’s Smart Growth director, agreed. “Cape’s growth makes it more difficult to keep up with infrastructure needs,” he said. The Cape and Lee County have been squabbling over those needs, especially roads. Cape Mayor Arnold Kempe and some council members have been pushing the county to build more roads in the Cape. He points to the city having only about 2 percent of county roads. County officials say they send the Cape 24 percent of the gas tax Lee receives from the state so the Cape can build its own roads. Besides, Lee County Commissioner John Albion said, “ Cape residents use county roads, too.” Some area leaders say it’s time banter stopped. “We need to start working together,” said Hall, who is also a member of the county’s Metropolitan Planning Organization, a regional commission of elected officials that plans county roads. “We can’t get territorial. We’ve got to make the county’s transportation system the best we can make it.” There is one community, however, that is glad to see the Cape grow — Lehigh Acres. Booming real estate prices in the Cape caused by growth have sent buyers looking to Lehigh as an affordable alternative, said a real estate broker with Coldwell Banker Preferred Properties of Lee County in Lehigh Acres. “What’s happened is the young families and (prudent) retirees are coming from Cape Coral to Lehigh Acres,” he said. Despite traffic issues and Lehigh’s influence, the safe, clean streets still appeal to most Cape residents even though they have to share them with more folks. “I wish it would slow down, but we own a real estate business so it’s good for business,” said Jodette Counts, 39, who moved to Cape Coral from Lehigh Acres five years ago. “I love the city. It’s clean and pretty here.” But other issues remain.

RESIDENTS HAVE TO WORK ELSEWHERE

Cape’s booming growth does provide cover for its business problems. Currently, the city doesn’t have the jobs to keep its residents employed at home. It doesn’t have the shopping or restaurants or even office buildings to cater to an ever-growing population. “If the Cape could create a job base, that would help the travel on the bridges and other county roads,” said Lee County Commissioner Andy Coy. Cape residents would not have to travel throughout the county if they worked in the city. And that makes the Cape’s economic development not just a city problem but a county issue, said Mike Jackson, the city’s economic development director. “If the county believes the way to develop the county’s economy is to have jobs in one area and homes in another, then we’ll remain a commuter society,” he said. Real estate experts call the Cape dramatically underserved in commercial and retail markets, especially considering the growth. “That impacts the roads not only in the Cape but in all of Lee County,” said a real estate agent for RE/MAX Realty Group who writes a real estate column for The News-Press. But with thousands of small, mostly residential lots dotting the landscape, the Cape has little room for shopping centers or office buildings. Experts say the Cape will have to find a way to assemble lots in sufficient quantities to be used for commercial development. That may, however, be tough to do without state help. The Florida Legislature considered a bill this year that would have made it easier for communities such as Cape Coral to assemble lots for commercial development. But the proposed law also would have allowed cities to use eminent domain powers to condemn land for commercial development. Legislators balked at that provision and the bill died.

KEEPING AHEAD OF GROWTH

Cape leaders have taken dramatic steps in the past few months to say ahead of growth. They’ve approved projects that will provide drinking water, roads, sewers and parks to a population estimated to top 200,000 in just nine years, including: • $80 million to build new water and sewer plants and renovate existing facilities. The original plan was to have those new units working by 2009, but the fast-paced growth has pushed that timetable up two years • $74 million for road-building projects that will widen parts of Del Prado Boulevard, and most of Santa Barbara and Chiquita boulevards — all important north-south highways • $90 million for new sewer and water lines, parks, fire stations and schools. And all this growth hasn’t dampened the spirit of 17-year Cape resident Victor Maxwell. “It’s not small anymore, but it’s still a nice place to live,” he said.

— Staff writers Tanya Somaroo and Osvaldo Padilla contributed to this report.

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Hurricane Charley update 8/23/04

It’s been 10 days since Hurricane Charley hit us here in SW Florida. Things are pretty much back to normal here in the Cape Coral and Fort Myers areas. Our neighbors to the north (Port Charlotte & Punta Gorda) still have a lot of cleaning up and repairs left. If anyone would like to help support in any way please contact the Red Cross or FEMA. They are still in need of supplies and monetary assistance.Immediately after the storm hit I went outside and assessed my personal damage. Only a few shingles blew off, a down spout was ripped off and pieces of my soffits were gone as well. That’s it. Luckily I have no trees in my yard or a fence so those things weren’t an issue. I went to other friends & family member’s homes and the most extreme damage was losing their entire pool cage. Quite a few homes did lose their pool cages it seems. Maybe this will cause a new standard in material for pool cages here. Overall the newer concrete block construction homes and condos were undamaged. There were some frame construction homes and older CBS homes with bad roofs that were pretty much destroyed. Overall I think we determined that our current building codes are quite sufficient. Most area homes had very minor damage, if any at all. I don’t believe anyone here was even injured - minus the few who inhaled fumes from their generators or got into car accidents while the lights were out. Our biggest issue was the loss of electricity and water for those on well/septic. Most were up and running within 3-4 days though.Well I have been contacted by quite a few of you, new and current clients who are interested in purchasing here. I have been following the new listings closely this past week and do not see any changes as far as prices going down. In my opinion, the home market will possibly steady for a month or two because of the added expense of building material, etc. But the vacant lots are still going up in value so go figure.If you are interested in learning more about the area from a news source, I recommend you visit the Ft Myers News Press’s website at http://www.News-Press.com. I’m looking forward to meeting those of you who I have not yet had the opportunity to personally meet and to seeing those of you again soon of which I have previously had the pleasure of meeting.Please remember that you can search the entire Florida MLS from my site at http://www.SusanMilner.com/listings.html I also have current listings posted as well. P.S. If you, or anyone you know needs a fair estimate of their Cape Coral, Fort Myers or other area location please visit http://www.FreeCapeCoralHomeValue.com or http://www.FreeFortMyersHomeValue.com to receive a free, no obligation CMA.

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My Personal July 2004 News