County Boat Ramp, 2003
In the summer of 2003, the Charlotte County commissioners enacted a plan to acquire 11 acres of land immediately to the north of Cape Haze on which to build a county park primarily as a boat launching facility. Most of the neighbors within our community were concerned that the size of the proposed park, its scheduled around-the-clock operation, and its location on a narrow, shallow canal would adversely impact the quality of life in Cape Haze.
CHPOA organized a resistance committee and began to raise funds from the community to pursue a legal challenge to the project. Our first tactic in this battle was to hire an attorney, and on his advice, we filed a formal protest with the state. This filing was directed at Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD), the primary permitting agency in the case, and notified them of our interest in the proceedings and our commitment to see that all applicable laws and standards were upheld.
It was discovered during this process that the boat ramp and docks already built on the property by the developer were not properly permitted, and that wetlands that had originally existed on the property had been improperly filled. By virtue of our filing, we became a party to the dispute, and our attorney kept the pressure on SWFWMD to discourage them from issuing an after-the-fact permit for the docks and boat ramp.
As a result, SWFWMD eventually ordered the developer to remove the boat ramp, and in effect, invalidated the original planned purchase by the county. The county backed away from its purchase and development plans for the property, and is on record as saying that the property is not suited for a public boat launching facility after all.
The property is zoned for multi-family development and no doubt will one day feature condominiums or apartments. However, CHPOA once again provided the organization, funds, and unified voice to impact nearby development, and in this case, prevented an improperly built boat ramp from becoming a busy and disruptive neighbor.