May 9, 2016
Dear Mayor Sawicki, Council Members and City Manager
Szerlag,
My name is Barth Wolf and I reside at 4007 Palm Tree Blvd,
Unit 108, Cape Coral, FL 33904. I am
writing to you with respect to the old golf course property. I am a retired attorney and President of Save
Our Recreation, Inc. an organization organized to protect and preserve
environmental and recreation property in Cape Coral, and in particular the old
golf course property. I am not writing
this on behalf of Save Our Recreation, Inc., but instead as a concerned
neighbor and citizen. I am aware of the
proposed D.R. Horton offer to purchase and their current efforts which included
meeting several of us concerned neighbors.
I have also followed closely the 5 year Park and Recreation Plan
process. I understand that the golf
course was discussed at the May 4 meeting where the Barth Associates Master
Parks Plan study was reviewed and at which it was suggested that the golf
course be discussed at the May 11 meeting during the discussion of Capital Assert
Management Plan.
I want to urge the Council to maintain the current Parks and
Recreation land use designation for the golf course and also to look at options
to purchase the course and bring it into the Master Parks Plan process. Although I would personally like to see the
property restored as a golf course, I am more concerned that we not lose this
last, large, historic piece of green space in the Southeast Cape lost for
generations to come. I had a city
manager friend tell me once that no one has ever been criticized in the future
for preserving green space in a manner that benefits the community as whole for
generations to come. At the time some
may say it is folly to purchase land for park and recreation purposes, but
generations later that person is often lauded as a visionary and people erect
statutes and plaques honoring them. You
have that opportunity with the property. Once developed into small lot homes
and condos, that opportunity is lost forever.
It also can potentially be part of or complement any future development
of the Bimini Basin.
I want to make several specific points.
First, the Barth Associates study clearly shows that Cape
Coral is lagging in park and recreation space as compared to its own standards
and even more so when compared to national averages. We bill ourselves as a top destination for
people to relocate to. Maintaining and
enhancing our park and recreation options is critical to maintain this
status. The fastest growing demographic
in the study was shown to be the 55-65 age group. Many of these are active retirees (or soon to
be retirees) who are looking for ways to stay active. I am one of these people. This property, whether golf course, multi-use
recreation park or nature area fits this need and is really the last such
option in the Southeast Cape.
Second, our city planners when first developing the
comprehensive plan designated this land as green space with Park and Recreation
use (a golf course at that time). This
has stayed this way in the plan until today.
In fact, the city even litigated the issue and was found to have the
authority to maintain the current land use designation.
Fourth, purchasers of property around the golf course and in
Area 12 of the CRA (which includes the golf course) have had numerous things
they’ve relied on in the public record that have influenced their investment
expectations that they bought and/or retained ownership of property on or near
a golf course. These include 1) the
first sales of property in Cape Coral when the golf course was a major selling
feature of the community 2) the Comprehensive Plan, 3) the CRA Plan, 4) the
successful litigation upholding the right to retain the Parks and Recreation
land use designation. Property owners
have relied on these and will likely suffer economic harm if high density
residential development occurs.
Last, this is a chance to save a historic and unique piece
of property in the Southeast Cape that can be a focal point for generations to
come. Our kids and their kids should
have the ability to enjoy this property for years to come. Doing the right things with this property can
continue to make Cape Coral a great place to live. Whether it is a golf course, stand-alone
multiuse park, nature park or other destination green space let’s do the right
thing with this property.
Barth Wolf
920-621-6097
bwolf3@new.rr.com
