Home Depot moves forward with truck rental plan
Home Depot took the first step Monday night toward providing truck rentals at its Skyline Boulevard location when City Council approved an amendment to the home improvement store’s Planned Development Project original ordinance from 2005.
Home Depot requested the special exception use to convert 25 parking spaces on the south end of the parking lot for the truck rental parking. Those parking spaces will be reserved by restriping and signage designations, which must be completed before rentals can begin. No additional lighting or construction is required.
Penske Truck Leasing and Home Depot will provide the rental trucks. The designated spaces will accommodate eight vehicles of 16 feet or greater.
One sticking point for Councilmember Jim Burch was staff’s recommendation to remove the special exception language from the ordinance amendment requiring council approval. Burch was concerned about the city not having control over future changes in development uses for the rest of the property and outparcels.
Burch dissented in the 6-1 vote by council with Councilmember Marilyn Stout absent.
In other actions Monday, council approved the refinancing of $80 million in existing city bonds at lower rates thereby saving the city about $8 million in debt payments. Most of the bonds were taken out for construction of Oasis Elementary, Middle and High School and the new police headquarters building.
Council also approved the hardship deferral of more than $65,000 in city assessment fees for 50 Cape Coral low income property owners for 2016. The annual utility and fire service assessments are attached to the property in the form of a lien that the city recoups when the property is sold.
Public Works Director Steve Neff attended his final council meeting Monday night before his retirement takes effect on Thursday. Neff joined the department in 1984 and served the city for 32 years.
City Manager John Szerlag related to council that Neff served seven mayors, eight city managers and 60 different city council members. He was instrumental in construction of the Midpoint Bridge, Cape Coral Bridge expansion, the city’s Bike-Ped Master Plan and the Chiquita Lock removal, which is in the permit stage with state agencies.
Utilities Expansion Project manager Paul Clinghan has spent the past six months as Neff’s deputy director preparing to replace him at the end of the week.
Council’s next meeting is Monday at 4:30 p.m. in Council Chambers at City Hall.