The future rookery at Wildflower preserve is now a reality. On Tuesday, Jan. 11 two new platforms were ceremoniously placed on the proposed rookery island site off Placida Road. As Boca Beacon readers may recall from an article written by Tonya Bramlage in October of 2021 titled, “If we build it, will they come? The future Rookery at Wildflower Preserve” has now come to fruition.

It was a busy Wednesday morning at the Boca Grande Community Center, as the Historic Preservation Board Meeting was called to order.
The first item on the agenda was the Special Certificate of Appropriateness (SCA) Case 7th Street Boathouse and Marina Alterations (SCA2021-00021).
“This is a non-contributing property that has been previously approved,” read Peter Blackwell, Lee County Planner and Zoning. “Replace the existing boathouse with a new design boathouse. That construction has not occurred yet, and what the applicant is asking for today is a revision to what was previously approved, I believe, in 2018. The main item that concerns staff or that’s relevant to staff review is the exterior elevations on the South elevation. Staff finds that none of these changes are really a change in the character of the building. It’s maritime industrial design either way, and they’re still keeping the metal siding.”

The following information regards our Lee County commissioners, as taken from interviews with island resident Mary O’Bannon. We will be continuing on with interviews from several elected officials from Lee County and the state of Florida, to allow you to know each one a little bit better.
As far as the Boca Beacon is concerned, our readership deserves to be better acquainted with those who make and uphold our laws and create legislation. Many thanks to Mary, and to the commissioners, for helping us with that mission.

The Gasparilla Island Bridge Authority Board meeting was held on Thursday January 13, 2022, in the offices of the Authority.  The Chairman reported on the temporary Covid policies for all GIBA staff, emphasizing extra precautions at each workstation and stay at home requirements for all symptoms of illness. The Board confirmed the recent salary increase […]

Join Mote Marine Laboratory as it kicks off its Coffee with a Scientist series on Tuesday, Jan. 18, 10 a.m. at the Boca Grande Community Center, complete with coffee, pastries  and science.