Cape Coral continues discussing ‘Four Corners’ project, neighbors oppose

Cape Coral City Council held its first public hearing ahead of a decision for a publicly-disputed plan known as the “Four Corners” project at its Monday meeting.

An area of undeveloped land has been slated to become apartment complexes for months, and neighbors who already live near the area are against it altogether.

The city has already been recommended by its committee to updated the zoning required for the project currently planned off Agualinda Boulevard and Beach Parkway. However, the council has not voted yet. Nearby neighbors want the city to block new zoning for the area.

Bruce Milne thinks that is the only good decision city council can make when it comes to his southwest Cape Coral neighborhood.

“Look at how the neighborhood is now, and keep it that way,” Milne said.

Randy Handers would rather keep his neighborhood just like it is too.

”We’re concerned about the impact this development could have on the infrastructure in the neighborhood,” Handers said.

The land remains undeveloped, with family homes directly adjacent to the land. But if the council votes to update the zoning for the land, it would mean the proposal of hundreds of apartments to be built next to those homes.

Milne said neighbors are moving because of the city plans.

“They didn’t want to have that in their backyard,” Milne said. “And people are already gone.”

The city said it needs more housing over the next five years to keep up with predicted growth.

Judah Findley said it needs to be affordable apartments.

“The cheapest housing around here is like $1,000, and that’s for … maybe a small, small apartment or condo,” Findley said. “If you want a house, you’re looking at like $1,400 to $1,500 and then expenses on top of that. It’s like $2,000 a month. It’s really not affordable for most people.”

Ray Heobig was on the same page as Findley.

“Right now, it’s $1,400 dollars a month for a minimized 2 bedroom 3 baths,” Heobig said. “Add tax insurance, water, sewer, maintenance. It’s unaffordable.”

The owner brought up the option of making a portion of the land mixed between commercial and residential.

But Milne said he wants to keep things the way they are in his quiet neighborhood.

“Because that’s what the people want,” Milne said. “And I think they can tell that by how many people show up to these council meetings, and the petitions that are going around and everything else.”

The next public hearing for the project is set for Monday, Aug. 12 at the city hall. Until then, the city will gather more information from neighbors impacted by the project ahead of its final decision.

MORE: Neighbors against proposed zoning code in Cape Coral