Dear Neighbors,
Many of you have received a letter from a some residents of Port Royal concerning the upcoming election and alleging that City Council made residential code changes a week after Hurricane Ian and that council is responsible for the delay in the construction of the NCH Heart and Stroke Center. These allegations are simply not true.
No Changes were Made to the Residential Zoning Codes
Following Hurricane Ian, the State of Florida advised coastal communities to “build resiliency.” Council initiated the critical conversation and hired a nationally known expert who made several suggestions to improve our resiliency and shared his recommendations with residents at four public town hall meetings.
Given the concern by the state along with many in the community about our vulnerability to flooding —which was clearly exposed with Ian—many felt that it was the right time to talk about resiliency.
Mr. Price at one time advocated for changes in residential building codes to improve resiliency. At a February 19, 2019 City Council Workshop. Price said “Residential codes and building practices should be potentially changed. We are allowing residential properties to be built to the property line and if we are being honest we ought to look at this. There is not a whole lot of green on properties and we should look at a different way to calculate coverage – it affects water quality and is a storm water issue.”
While council discussed a myriad of ways to improve resiliency and protect our residents and their property values , Council has NOT made any changes to residential building codes.
NCH Heart and Stroke Center
Here also Gary Price has seriously misled the community. Council has not “kicked the can down the road” and delayed construction on this as Mr. Price indicates in his campaign materials—for it has not even come before council for a vote. In fact Council has worked hard to find a legal pathway for the hospital to potentially request a taller building that would not be in conflict with the City of Naples 42’ Charter Height limit. This was accomplished by providing an opportunity for NCH to potentially petition to re-zone property to a public service district.
The NCH petition is scheduled to be heard before council for the first time in January of 2024.
In brief summary..
Mr Price has seriously mislead the community on these campaign platform issues. There is no threat to “property rights’. And Council has not been the cause of delay in the construction of the NCH Heart and Stroke Center.