Now that the calendar has officially turned to fall, more Sanibel and Captiva Island events are being scheduled and more new businesses are in the news. Here is a sampling, followed by the activity reported this week in the Sanibel/Captiva Multiple Listing Service.

Realtor Caravan & Monthly Membership Meeting

Yesterday, the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of Realtors® monthly membership meeting was well attended. Speakers Roy Gibson and Scott Fulton from Sanibel’s Department of Planning and Code Enforcement updated members on the progress of the City’s current Evaluation and Appraisal Report of The Sanibel Plan. They reminded us that when The Sanibel Plan began in 1976, the number of allowable dwelling units of Sanibel was established at 7,800. That number was amended and increased to 9,000 in 1989, where it remains today, with “build-out” near.

For those interested in reading the plan, which is the basis for Sanibel’s Land Development Code, it is a living document and periodically reviewed and updated, here is a link www.mysanibel.com/content/download/539/3306

Upcoming Events

4th Annual 10K Race for FISH – As the main fundraiser for island non-profit FISH (Friends in Service Here), more than 400 runners are expected to participate on Saturday October 13 when the race begins at 7:30 a.m. at the Sanibel Community House.

4th Annual Sanibel-Captiva Cracker Festival – At The Bait Box at 6 p.m., Friday, November 2, this event includes an evening of dining & dancing (Danny Morgan & The Apple Butter Bank), plus live auction and raffles. The Cracker Fest celebrates Florida’s cultural heritage and laid-back atmosphere while raising awareness and financial support for Sanibel-Captiva Chapter of Solutions To Avoid Red Tide, Inc. (START) whose mission is to support educational, scientific, and marine habitat, species preservation/restoration, and promotion of healthy beaches and waterways.

First-Ever Coast-to-Coast Expedition Challenge – As part of the Calusa Blueway Paddling Festival, departure of racers begins at 2 p.m. Sunday November 4 on the Sanibel Causeway. This 240-mile self-sustaining human-powered race featuring small non-motorized sailboats and paddle craft will snake from Sanibel though the Everglades to end on the following Sunday, November 11 in Miami. The route commemorates the discovery of Florida and follows the route of Ponce de Leon’s fleet in 1513.

For the Foodies

Zebra Frozen Yogurt – In Bailey’s Shopping Center in a space recently occupied by KOR Island Provisions, and prior to that Sanibel Beauty Shop, this proposed new business will occupy a 1,435 sq. ft. commercial unit in the center and will have 20 indoor seats as well as carry out. It also will be eligible for some bonus outdoor seating. Their goal is to open for Sanibel’s early December Luminary Trail, but because it involves on-site food preparation, conditional use review and approval is required by the Sanibel Planning Commission.

Doughnut Shop Hearing – An application for a new doughnut, coffee and sandwich restaurant with 40 seats will go before the Sanibel Planning Commission on Tuesday, October 9. Previously a real estate office, the owner of the parcel at 1020 Periwinkle Way, east of The Lazy Flamingo, wants to convert the existing commercial building to a fast food restaurant.

Update on The Dunes Piping Replacement Project

The first phase of the 2-phase Dunes water main replacement project is completed. Thanks to dry ground from mid-April through mid-June, Island Water Association reports that Phase 1 of the project (from the clubhouse north and west), finished two months ahead of schedule. Rather than delaying more work until the off-season and since the first phase was completed early, Phase 2 now is underway, including the southern portion of Sand Castle Road. It should be done by the end of the year.

A Little More on Island Water & Conservation

Island Water also recently reported that Sanibel rainfall this year has been right on average, or about 30″ during the first eight months of the year, with 19.51″ of rain from June through August. Even so, there has been a big water demand even during the summer rainy season, especially during the early morning hours from property irrigation systems.

Did you know that sprinkler systems are required to have rain sensors installed? And working properly? When the islands occasionally experience storm-related electrical outages, these sprinkler systems rely on batteries to keep their day/time correct. Please check your system to ensure that it is operating correctly and that sprinkler zones are set to run for periods shorter than 30 minutes. Everyone needs to do their part to conserve our water! We locals go “grrrrr” whenever we see sprinklers going full blast in the middle of a summer shower. I often see them during just my short drive to and from home and office.

Sanibel Community Chorus

As one of the original members of the BIG ARTS Sanibel Community Chorus, SanibelSusan always is fired up each fall when we start singing again. The group meets at BIG ARTS on Tuesday evenings from October through April and has grown from just a handful of singers in the early 90’s to 85+voices strong during high season. No auditions are required and new members are always welcomed. The Chorus already is scheduled to perform on Sanibel at BaileyFest (October 21), the Thanksgiving Celebration at The Community House (November 18), the Art Fair at The Community House (November 24), a Sanibel Bike Club Meeting (December 3), and both Sanibel and Captiva Luminary nights (December 7 and 8, respectively).  The Community Chorus Holiday Concert will be at 7 p.m. on Thursday, December 6 at BIG ARTS Schein Performance Hall, followed by a holiday break until early January when the spring series begins.

Recent Wildlife Rediscoveries on Sanibel

SCCF’s (Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation) October newsletter arrived yesterday. It was interesting to read about two animals reappearing on the island.

One is an eastern glass lizard, previously documented only once on Sanibel in 1959. Glass lizards are legless lizards resembling snakes, because they do not have any limbs. An injured one that was brought to CROW (Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife) in July did not make it, but it was the first of its species documented here in the last 53 years.

A couple of weeks later, another species reappeared up at the Sanctuary Golf Course. It was a hatchling Florida mud turtle. The last of those was seen on Sanibel in 1978. In mid-August, a second hatchling showed up on the golf course. SCCF reports that “there still are seven more species of amphibian or reptile (four frogs, three snakes) that were historically present on Sanibel that have not been seen in over 10 years.” It sounds like they are on the look-out for them though. 

New Bike Path

Those out and about on the island this week probably noticed a new stretch of bike path being constructed on Bailey Road from Periwinkle to Bayview Drive. The path is part of Sanibel’s off-season capital improvement projects to widen, extend, repair and resurface many bike paths throughout the city.

Sanibel & Captiva Islands Multiple Listing Service Activity September 21-28

 Sanibel
CONDOS
2 new listings: Sanibel Siesta #210 2/2 $429K, Lighthouse Point #215 2/2 $629.5K.
5 price changes: Blind Pass #D205 2/2 now #315K (short sale), Cottage Colony West #101 1/1 now $450K (short sale), White Caps South #5 1/1 now $499K, Bougainvillea #4 3/3 now $999K, Golden Beach #2 3/2.5 now $1.395M.
3 new sales: Colonnades #9 1/1 listed for $147.9K, Sundial #C201 1/1 listed for $259K (short sale), Sundial #Q201 2/2 listed for $495K.
1 closed sale: Compass Point #143 3/2 $970K.

HOMES
4 new listings: 247 Daniel Dr 3/2.5 $799K, 228 Violet Dr 3/3 $1.395M, 1826 Woodring Rd 3/2 $1.98M, 4204 Dingman Dr 5/4.5 $1.995M.
3 price change: 967 Beach Rd 2/2 half-duplex now $550K, 1297 Par View Dr 3/2 now $769.5K, 780 Birdie View Pt 5/4.5 now $1.749M.
2 new sales: 445 East Gulf Dr 3/2 listed for $609K, 760 Birdie View Pt 4/3.5 listed for $769K (short sale).
No closed sales.

LOTS
1 new listing: Bay Dr $299.9K.
1 price change: 1450 Tahiti Dr now $239,555.
No new or closed sales.

Captiva
CONDOS
1 new listing: Sunset Beach Villas #2328 2/2 $649K.
No price changes or new sales.
1 closed sale: Tennis Villas #3120 1/1 $202.5K.

HOMES
Nothing to report.

LOTS
Nothing to report.

This representation is based in whole or in part on data supplied by the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of Realtors or its Multiple Listing Service.  Neither the association nor its MLS guarantees or is in any way responsible for its accuracy.  Data maintained by the association or its MLS may not reflect all real estate activity in the market.  The information provided represents the general real estate activity in the community and does not imply that SanibelSusan Realty Associates is participating or participated in these transactions.  If your property currently is listed with another broker, this is not intended as a solicitation of that listing.