Mann speaks to Matlacha Civic Association concerning Cape Coral’s land annexation
Lee County Commissioner Frank Mann was the guest speaker at the Matlacha Civic Association meeting Wednesday, addressing, in part, the controversial annexation of Matlacha property by the city of Cape Coral
Long-time MCA member Nancy Harwood introduced Mann to a crowd of about 35.
“I received a lot of emails and phone calls regarding the annexation of that piece of property on Matlacha by the city of Cape Coral,” Mann said. “Nobody was happy with the response I and my fellow commissioners would give which is that annexations in Florida are controlled by state laws. The Legislature creates counties and cities and the sad fact is that Cape Coral has the legal right to both purchase the land and the legal right to annex it.”
Prior to the meeting Mann spoke with Cape Coral City Manager John Szerlag and one of five City Council members, Councilwoman Rana Erbrick. Mann said he wanted to hear from them directly “that this is not the first step to take over Matlacha and parts of Pine Island.”
Szerlag and Erbrick both assured Mann that the only purpose Cape Coral has for the property is the acquisition and use of boat ramps and not to annex Matlacha.
“It would be almost impossible for Cape Coral to annex Matlacha because you would never go for it,” Mann said. “Cape Coral was only able to annex those properties because there are no residents – nobody lives there that can vote. Any annexation requires a vote from the people doing the annexing and the people being annexed both sides have to approve the annexing.”
The parcel is made up of six individual lots that the city purchased in 2012 in a package of 491 parcels for $13 million, a deal that also included the Seven Islands property in northwest Cape Coral. The parcels under consideration for annexation serve as a parking lot for the boat launch ramp at D & D Bait & Tackle. The city wants to add the property to its parks plan and improve the ramp access points.
On Dec. 12, 2016, the Cape Coral City Council, despite protests by more than 100 Pine Island Matlacha residents, voted 4-3 to approve the annexation of the properties east of Miceli’s Restaurant along Pine Island road.
In response, the Matlacha/Pine Island Fire Control District sent a “Petition for Writ of Certiorari; and Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief” to put the annexation on hold pending mediation. “The Petition, … addresses the City’s violation of and failure to satisfy the requirements of the annexation statute in adopting the Ordinance.”
Matlacha and Pine Island residents met for the first time with representatives of Cape Coral Thursday, Feb. 16, at the Cape Coral Administration building where both sides agreed to return to the table in 90 days.