Time sure is flying on Sanibel where even here it is expected to be a chilly Christmas. Yesterday, following my second trip to the island, it was a surprise to find the causeway fogged in at 5 p.m. During the preceding hour, the temperature dropped from 80 degrees F to 70. Today, the day again began sunny with blue skies mid-70’s. It’s down to mid-60’s now. My phone weather app says it will be only 41 by 8 a.m. tomorrow with chilly weather continuing through Monday. It should be back to mid-70’s by the middle of the week.

This week on our island travels, the team and I saw more roofers and construction workers. The weekly post-Ian progress update was part of the Tuesday City Council Meeting. Then, this afternoon the following press release was issued:

Below is the press release that the City issued earlier, summarizing the Tuesday special City Council meeting. Links to the referenced documents are available at MySanibel.com. Some of this info is a repeat of the above update.

Sanibel Causeway – Eliminating Requirement for Reentry Passes. By consensus, the Sanibel City Council supported the decision to end the requirement for reentry passes on January 2, 2023. The Police checkpoint that has been in place since the causeway reopened to traffic will be deactivated early that morning. However, the City’s curfew will remain in effect between the hours of 9 pm and 6 am daily and the Police checkpoint will be in place during the curfew hours. Sanibel and Captiva residents should continue to display resident reentry passes when traveling on and off the island during curfew hours.

The decision to eliminate the reentry pass requirement was made to assist residents, business owners, and the community recover from Hurricane Ian as the following benchmarks established by the City early in the recovery effort have been met:

·        ROW Debris – 80% of the debris placed in the City’s right of way has been collected.

·        The E. Periwinkle Way Bridge is now open to traffic.

·        LCEC has completed pole replacement on main roadways.

·        Any increase in traffic will not interfere with FDOT’s causeway construction project.

·        Police security is sufficient on the island as other communities continue to send police officers from other jurisdictions to assist Sanibel and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office continues to assist Sanibel by assigning Sheriff Deputies to patrol the island.

The City of Sanibel reminds the general public that Sanibel is still actively working to recover from Hurricane Ian. While the requirement for reentry passes will no longer be necessary on January 2, 2023, we are discouraging visitors. Please note the following:

·        Beaches and beach parks, including the Sanibel Lighthouse, remain closed – Sanibel is not open to beach visitors and the Mayoral Proclamation, extending Sanibel’s Local State of Emergency, prohibits non-residents from being on the beach.

·        Fishing Pier and Boat Ramp are closed.

·        Most businesses are closed.

·        There is nothing to see or do – yet.

·        Residents/contractors with reentry passes should continue displaying their reentry passes on dashboard to assist Police.

Hurricane Reentry Passes – Ending Distribution on December 23^rd. The City of Sanibel will stop distributing reentry passes tomorrow, December 23, 2022. Residents, contractors, and business owners who may need a reentry pass issued for use during the last week of December (2022) should visit the Fort Myers Regional Library Meeting Rooms located at 1651 Lee St, Ft. Myers, FL 33901, between the hours of 8 am – 1 pm on Friday, December 23, 2022. Residents who have extenuating circumstances that prevented them from obtaining a reentry pass by December 23rd should call 239-472-3700 for assistance.

City Offices and Phone Lines Closed December 26^th and January 2^nd – Sanibel offices, including the Hurricane Reentry Pass distribution center, and phone lines (except for 911 and Police Non-Emergency calls 239-472-3111) will be closed on December 26, 2022, and January 2, 2023, in observance of the Christmas and New Year holidays.

Building Fees. The City Council advanced an Ordinance (22-013) relating to Building Fee discounts for residents and contractors using private provider services for building inspections to a Public Hearing and Second Reading at the January 17, 2023, City Council meeting. The Ordinance also adds a provision that allows the waiver of Building Fees by resolution following a natural or man-made disaster….

Temporary Use Fees.  The City Council advanced an Ordinance (22-015) relating to Temporary Use Fee discounts for residents and contractors using private provider services for building inspections to a Public Hearing and Second Reading at the January 17, 2023, City Council meeting. The Ordinance also adds a provision that allows the waiver of Temporary Use Fees for the placement of a recreation vehicle or park trailer on a residential lot by Mayoral Proclamation or City Council Resolution following a natural or man-made disaster….

Development Regulations in the Resort Housing District – The City Council advanced an Ordinance (22-017) to update the Resort Housing Development Regulations to a Public Hearing and Second Reading at the January 17, 2023, City Council meeting….

Off-Street Parking Requirements and Land Use Regulations in the Resort Housing District – The City Council advanced an Ordinance (22-019) to amend the Off-Street Parking Requirement and Land Use Regulations in the Resort Housing District to a Public Hearing and Second Reading at the January 17, 2023, City Council meeting….

Finance Department Reports – The City Council received the following quarterly reports from the Finance Department. The Finance Department reports include:

1.      General Fund quarterly financial report for 2022 fiscal year to date as of September 30, 2022.

2.      Recreation Fund quarterly financial report for 2022 fiscal year to date as of September 30, 2022.

3.      Sewer Fund quarterly financial report for 2022 fiscal year to date as of September 30, 2022.

4.      Beach Parking Fund quarterly financial report for 2022 fiscal year to date as of September 30, 2022.

5.      City of Sanibel fiscal year 2022 quarterly investment report as of September 30, 2022….

Referred Review of Section 126-87 – Combined Residential and Commercial Development, of the Land Development Code to the Planning Commission for Review. City Councilman Mike Miller asked the City Council to refer Section 126-87 – Combined Residential and Commercial Development, of the Land Development Code to the Planning Commission for Review. Councilman Miller believes that Section 126-87(5) should be reviewed to ensure the code does not create a disincentive to develop affordable or below market rate housing units in mixed-use development projects. The City Council approved Councilman Miller’s request.

Dwelling Rental License Renewals – The City Council authorized the Finance Department to prorate Dwelling Rental License renewal fees for 2023 only to assist owners of short-term rental properties in recovering from Hurricane Ian.

Special Event Approvals – The City Council authorized the City Manager to approve Special Events for 2023 only to assist special event organizers in planning and scheduling special events on an expedited time frame due to Hurricane Ian.

Legislative Priorities. The City Council approved the legislative priorities presented by City Manager Souza. The Legislative Priorities presented to the City Council on December 6^th were ranked in order of priority at the request of Sanibel’s Legislative Delegation members….

·        Monday, January 9, 2023 – Planning Commission – 9:00am at BIG ARTS, 900 Dunlop Rd., Sanibel

·        Tuesday, January 17, 2023 – City Council Regular Meeting – 9:00am at BIG ARTS, 900 Dunlop Rd., Sanibel”

Still no construction started inside our office at Sanibel Square, but Dave and I continue work on island every day. Construction is underway at my home though, so we may have space to work there first.

Below is the listing activity posted since last Friday on the Sanibel & Captiva Islands MLS. I chatted with several colleagues who like us, are getting mostly calls from owners trying to decide if they are going to sell or restore. Some with property already undergoing remediation and repairs, but many still waiting for adjuster reports, contractor estimates, insurance checks, and/or permits.

It will be interesting to see how activity changes – if it does – in January when reentry passes are no longer needed. Meanwhile, damaged homes continue to dominate the market, while more and more condo complexes are being locked up as their restoration contractors work their way through build-back.

CONDOS

4 new listings: Sundial #G406 1/1 $624.9K, Sundial #A303 1/1 $845K, Kings Crown #208 2/2 $889K, Royale Tern #204 3/3.5 $2.695M.

No price changes.

2 new sales: Pine Cove #A 2/2 listed at $990K, Sanctuary Golf Villages #4-5 3/3 listed at $1.395M.

3 closed sales: Sanctuary Golf Villages #2-1 2/2.5 $995K, Gulfside Place #205 2/2 $1.245M, Royale Tern #304 3/3.5 $2.745M.

HOMES

16 new listings (3 included in new sales below): 2623 Tamarind Rd 2/1 $379K, 1811 Ibis Ln 2/2 4625K, 775 Pen Shell Dr 3/2 $999K, 1304 Par View Dr 3/3 $890K, 4733 Rue Belle Mer 3/3 $895K, 1284 Par View Dr 2/2 $899K, 969 Fish Crow Rd 3/2 $899K, 1230 Sand Castle Rd 3/2 $899K,1040 Kings Crown Dr 3/2 $995K, 3060 West Gulf Dr 3/2 $999K, 844 Lindgren Blvd 3/3 $1.349M, 1036 Whisperwood Way 3/3 $1.749M, 1027 Kings Crown Dr 3/3 $1.895M.

7 price changes: 1382 Tahiti Dr 3/2 now $599K, 0126 Mockingbird Dr 3/2 now $750K, 1835 Farm Trail 3/2 now $875K, 9094 Mockingbird Dr 4/3.5 now $895K, 4565 Bowen Bayou Rd 3/2 now $1.229M, 750 Sand Dollar Dr 3/2 now $1.298M. 869 Limpet Dr 5/4 now $2.895M.

7 new sales: 3008 Singing Wind Dr 2/2 listed at $499K, 1585 Bunting Ln 3/2 listed at $699K, 577 Boulder Dr 3/2 listed at $724.5K, 740 Windlass Way 2/2 listed at $899.9K, 760 Windlass Way 3/3 listed at $1.2M, 1153 Golden Olive Ct 4/2 listed at $1.995M, 791 Limpet Dr 4/4.5 listed at $2.6M.

13 closed sales: 1403 Sandpiper Cir 3/2.5 $449K, 2551 Sanibel Blvd 3/2 $575K, 1585 Serenity Ln 3/2 $610K, 486 Lake Murex Cir 3/2 $635K, 596 Boulder Dr 3/2 $685K, 2186 Egret Cir 3/2 $850K, 1339 Par View Dr 3/2.5 $850K, 520 Sea Oats Dr 3/2 $975K, 2474 Wulfert Rd 3/3.5.5 $995K, 5435 Osprey Ct 4/3.5 $1.1M, 4172 West Gulf Dr 3/2 $1.125M, 4670 Rue Bayou 5/4 $1.249M, 888 Limpet Dr 3/2 $1.55M

LOTS

1 new listing (included in new sales below).

No price changes.

2 new sales: 2998 Singing Wind Dr listed at $299K, 9232 Dimmick Dr listed at $399K.

No closed sales.

CONDOS

1 new listing: Lands End Village #1650 3/3 $2.59M.

HOMES

No price changes.

2 new sales: 1106 Tallow Tree Ct 3/3 listed at $1.6M, 11460 Old Lodge Ln 4/3 listed at $2.399M.

No closed sales.

LOTS

Nothing to report.

This representation is based in part on data supplied by the Sanibel & Captiva Islands Association of Realtors® 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.

Until next Friday, wishing you safe peaceful happy holidays & a very Merry Christmas!