PRESIDENT’S PAGE
Jerry Smith, President
December 9, 2024 -
Dear Members of NWNA,
We had a situation develop at last Wednesday’s City Council meeting which could impact the Northwest Cape Coral Seven Islands Vision Plan dated 10-31-16. This vision plan (attached) of course, includes the development of the waterways and future blue ways (north spreader exits) to Matlacha Pass resulting from Ecological Restoration.
The Chiquita Lock Update and Viewpoint provided by the South West Cape Coral Action Committee (SWCCAC) provides important information on the case and its potential impact on city taxpayers. The Petitioners and their Legal Representative have continued to pursue the appeal of the Chiquita Lock case AFTER the ruling in favor of the city, apparently running up legal costs for our city. This group showed up at Wednesday’s City Council Meeting requesting the “new council” to absolve them of legal fees. If the Petitioners and Legal Representative are set free of this debt, where will they surface next?
My “Letter of Recommendation” to the city council to allow the judicial process to come to a final determination without interference or intervention.
I urge all members to contact the Cape Coral Mayor, City Manager and City Council to oppose this action!
Sincere appreciation,
Jerry Smith, President-NWNA
Download President's Letter to Council Click Here
Write City Council
District 1 District 2 District 3 District 4
District 5 District 6 District 7
Write Cape Coral Mayor Click Here
Write the Cape Coral City Manager Click Here
Oct 24, 2024 - President’s Report
North Spreader Exit Update
The 2nd Annual NWNA “Community Social” Dinner Registration will close soon!
In September, District 2 Council Member- Dan Sheppard lead an excursion through THE KEY DITCH with City Manager-Mike Ilczyszyn, Cape Coral Police and NWNA Members Ray Mule and Ed Stafford.
Dan Sheppard informed me on many occasions that one of his primary objectives as a council member was to work diligently with city staff on the “Chiquita Lock" removal project. He mentioned that once the lock removal construction begins, he would pivot and focus efforts on the North Spreader waterway to help create an exit in the NW. Soon after the Chiquita Lock construction began, Dan showed up in the North Spreader.
October 15, 2024 General Membership Meeting - “The Most Influential Meeting of the Year!”
Tuesday, October 15th, 2024 - 6:00 p.m. to 7:15 p.m.
Northwest Regional Library
519 Chiquita Blvd., N., Cape Coral, FL 33993
2nd Annual '“COMMUNITY SOCIAL DINNER EVENT”
TROPICAL ATTIRE AND THEME
Friday, November 8th, 2024 from 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
The Westin Cape Coral Resort and Marina Village
Tarpon Point Ballroom- 5951 Silver King Blvd,Cape Coral, FL 33914
Platinum Sponsor: GULF GATEWAY RESORT AND MARINA VILLAGE at 7 Islands
“New” Portfolio of Project Renderings to be Displayed
Event Sponsors: EXPERIENCE REAL ESTATE GROUP/ ARNOLD ROBERTS SIGNATURE HOMES
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE - September 2024 - Here Comes the Sun -
Dear Neighbors,
The smile’s returning to our faces, it seems like years since it’s been here”. Quoting the late, great, George Harrison who gave us this inspiring song (Here Comes the Sun) as a member of The Beetles.
The Rise of NW Cape- Updates on:
Island Pearl Development Project
Sirenia Vista Park Tree Beautification
City Moving Forward to Complete NW Parks Funded by GO-Bond
Tropicana, Crystal Lake, Festival Parks Update
NORTH 3 - UEP STREETSCAPE PLANNING SURVEY
March 5, 2024 General Membership Meeting and NWNA Strategic Development Plan for North Zone 3- Utility Expansion Project (UEP)
Our Finest Hour-
Reflecting on the evening of March 5th, I thought this was our finest hour. Our committee’s reports were concise and well delivered. Attendees had only a few questions, evidence of great planning and preparation by our NWNA volunteers. The entire power point presentation is available by clicking the following link.
The good feeling and momentum reached the pinnacle during our keynote speakers’ speech delivered at the end of our program, by Scott Dunlap, Partner- Gulf Gateway Resort and Marina Village. Mr. Dunlap is a long-time Cape Coral resident and local land developer.
December 14, 2023
November 9th, 2023 “Community Social Event” Featuring 7 Islands Development
Dear Sponsors and Guests,
Our Community Social held on November 9th at Cass Cay Restaurant in Burnt Store Marina attracted a sell-out crowd of 230 people.
Gulf Gateway Resort and Marina Village and Forest Development secured the Platinum Sponsorship of the event and revealed for the first time an extensive portfolio of concept renderings (Click Here) for all to see. Peter Baytarian, Managing Partner of Forest Development presented the concept renderings with a short verbal outline of key features and elements which is included in the link provided.
Experience Real Estate Group partnered with Arnold Roberts Signature Homes to secure as an Event Sponsor.
Tranquility Lakes RV Resort sponsored the dining table flower arrangements. Buy FL Now Group at RE/MAX Trend Realtors, Cape Coral Grove, Cape Premier Realty, Gulf Real Estate LLC, RE/MAX Sunshine and The Smith Team Katie Sylva all supported the event sponsoring tables.
City of Cape Coral Mayor John Gunter, City Manager Michael Ilczyszyn, Economic & Business Development Manager T. Sharon Woodberry, Councilmembers Keith Long, Patty Cummings, Dan Sheppard and Bill Steinke attended and supported the event with City Staff.
Special thanks to local band “Endless Summer” duet, Erin Cruise and Ken Uhlmann for their performance and the NWNA Community Social Committee - Ralph Huber, Communications Chair and Treasurer- Cathy Eybs.
Shared Vision for 7 Islands and Beyond
Prior to introducing our sponsors and guests at the event, I shared a thought from the podium: "It was nice to bring all affected parties and end users of this development project together in a social environment to view the conceptual renderings for the first time and share reactions and discussions. Please take this unique opportunity to get to know one another and share time".
The 7 Islands Project work plan includes some attributes worth pointing out.
The Community Island positioned next to Tropicana Park creates an expansion of the “greenspace” by combining the activity use and open spaces of each location.
The neighboring “Public Lagoon” connectivity to the “Community Island” further expands the recreational use for residents and creates a new waterfront beach destination.
The high-density construction of residential condominiums and apartments is limited to five (5) islands and encompasses the commercial village center area featuring waterfront dining, walking paths, and dock accessibility.
Integration of expanded transient docking opportunities for boaters, bike parking, golf cart (minimum speed vehicle) parking areas, kayak docks, and walking paths met our demand for an “automobile-free” destination.
If you are new to the community, the idea for this project started over a decade ago. Preparation for a visioning and conceptual design effort for the Northwest Cape area began when The City hosted a three-day design charrette in November 2015. The City of Cape Coral contracted with a consulting firm (CPH, Inc.) to conduct interviews with City officials, City staff, members of the NWNA, and Civic and business groups. The final consultant report “Cape Coral Florida Northwest Cape and Seven Islands Vision Plan” was dated October 31st, 2016 and submitted to the City Council.
On November 14, 2016, City Council voted to accept the final consultant report dated October 31st , 2016, for the Vision Plan for the Northwest Cape and Seven Islands; approving design concept D-1 as the basis for the work plan; directing staff to proceed with the recommended work plan under Resolution 206-16. The City of Cape Coral approved the sale of Gulf Gateway Resort and Marina Village on February 20, 2023. The NWNA Summary -7 Islands Survey captured the responses of 61% of the members published in the consultant’s report. Park Use, waterfront dining, and single-family homes were the most requested great place-making attributes on the 2016 Survey.
Beginning in August 2023, DRC-Committee Chairman, John Smart and I were granted permission by the developers to join the forum at the 7 Islands Development meetings. Participants included City Staff, Developers Representatives, Engineering firms, Consulting firms, and Architects. My initial feelings entering our first meeting were “guarded” or “on high alert”. Today, I see true collaboration and mutual respect by all parties to adhere to and accept governance of the D-1 Conceptual Design. The complexity of this waterfront project has challenged the best of the best. So many hard-working individuals have come together to get this right. Maintaining the balance of nature, working
through countless obstacles fueled by overcoming challenges. The will to finish. Great achievements are never easy when you pursue a dream. We all share that vision of the Southwest Gulf Coast. It is what brought us here.
Later that evening, at the Community Social, I migrated back to my table and had a quiet moment alone. I looked up as Peter Baytarian from Forest Development joined me. My wife soon joined in the conversation. We shared how much we were in awe of this project. We could not believe how much life the rendering portfolio provided. He ended with a profound message: “This project is the most magnificent development opportunity in the entire United States”."!
Connectivity to Cape Coral Grove Community Center and Matlacha As Gulf Gateway Resort and Marina Village comes to life to anchor the Northwest waterfront, Cape Coral Grove- Town Center on Pine Island Road will become one of the primary destinations in Cape Coral for
shopping. We would like to work with The City to establish a Trolley Bus to connect Gulf Gateway Resort with Cape Coral Grove which is exactly 3.5 miles apart. Service to rebuilding Matlacha Restaurants could also be proposed along with water taxis. If we stay together, we can achieve anything. Looking forward to seeing you all at our next meeting in late winter 2024.
Wishing you all a very happy and healthy Holiday Season!
Jerry Smith, President/ NWNA
January 1, 2023
Welcome to the Northwest Cape Coral Neighborhood Association, Inc.
Welcome to Northwest Cape Coral and to the Northwest Cape Coral Neighborhood Association. I am pleased you selected Northwest Cape Coral for your Florida home and am excited you recognized the importance of joining the association. You are now a member of the largest, most active neighborhood association in the largest city in Southwest Florida. We are here to shape the future of Northwest Cape Coral and represent our members' collective opinions on the quality of life. Our membership boundaries run inside the city limits from Pine Island Road North and from Santa Barbara Blvd West.
In addition to our association website at www.nwcape.com, you will benefit from our timely email Bulletins, NWNA News Flashes, Secretary Notes, City Notes, our YouTube Channel, and our Facebook Page. Our new NWNA Member App makes it easy to get all of our updates on your mobile device. Download it on the App Store and keep our updates at your fingertips. We keep you updated with timely communication on the issues impacting our community in Northwest Cape Coral as well as the City of Cape Coral.
To ensure you receive our bulletins, be sure to add nwna@nwcape.com to your email address book and make sure we are on your safe senders' list. I encourage you to share information with your neighbors so they can see what the NWNA is focusing on and join the team. Together We're Better!
Our committees were formed to align with the departments in the City of Cape Coral and they focus on issues important to you. Today we have four committees:
• Development Review (land use, zoning, and planning)
• Public Works (planning and design of the city's stormwater and transportation infrastructure)
• Environment (cleanup events and activities and median beautification)
• Parks (existing and future parks and marine estuaries)
• Waterways (NW Spreader Exit)
More information regarding our committees is posted on our website Committees tab or just e-mail us at nwna@nwcape.com.
The lifetime membership fee is $15. Donations may be made at any time through our website and are most appreciated. They help offset the operating expenses of the organization. We hope you will find your membership a rewarding experience and I look forward to your participation in meetings and events.
Together We're Better!
Jerry Smith, President
(973) 495-0221