Cape Coral City Council gave an one-year extension on a site plan approval for developer Robbie Lee’s Venetian Towers project in downtown Cape Coral.
Eyed for a vacant lot between Wendy’s restaurant and Rick’s Music, Lee said the project has been in development for a longer period of time than his recently approved Village Square project.
Venetian Towers calls for two towers with with 68,000 square feet of commercial and residential uses, though Lee said a majority will be used for commercial space.
Lee said he needed the extension because the market will not support new commercial space, and he needs more time to attract potential tenants.
“There’s no marketability right now,” Lee said.
Lee wanted a two-year extension, but council ultimately unanimously approved the single year.
Lee had been working on Village Square for four years. The Venetian Square project has been ongoing for 4 1/2 years, Lee said.
In other news, the council appointed two new members to the Financial Advisory Committee.
Citizen activist Sal Grosso was appointed for a three-year term, and Rana Erbick was appointed to finish a term that expires in September of this year. Both are filling spots recently vacated.
Grosso was somewhat of a polarizing choice, causing members of the audience to both denounce and praise him.
Having served on the FAC 10 years ago, Grosso said he once again feels the city needs his fiduciary expertise.
Regarding the response his selection got from the audience, Grosso said, “I’m going to work to solve problems, not make problems.”
Grosso is a former supervisor for the New York Telephone Company, which is now owned by Verizon. Grosso said his responsibilities included budget administration and call completion.
Erbick is former deputy supervisor of Harrison Township in Michigan. According to her application, she worked closely with the budget process in that township.