This now-approved rezoning of land to the North will create the Harbor Village Development by Maronda Homes. We have tracked this project and will continue to track it as it developed. On July 22, 205, this PD was approved, however a number of conditions were attached to the approval. We have provided many of the documents from FoSGC to the Board of County Commissioners, County Staff and the Applicant below. We have also provided the final July 22, 2025 Ordinance in case you are interested. Please note the final documents wil be updated and we were told this will take some time,we will make those available once we can post them.

Updated Re-zoning Presentation of Harbor Village 07/09/2025

Update to Harbor Village Town Hall on July 9, 2025

Many thanks to those that attended the Town Hall on July 9, considering the summer season, it was well attended with 96 attendees that signed in. Also in attendance was Commissioner Deutsch and representatives from the Applicant, Maronda Homes, were part of the panel. For those that were unable to attend, yesterday’s presentation can be found on our website at https://www.friendsofsouthgulfcove.org/.  You can also email us at [email protected].

We continue to monitor and meet with many organizations as we move forward.  The applicant has made recommendations to the county regarding the proposed Harbor Village development, obtained from you, the community.  Please continue to be vocal!  We still need your support on July 22, 2025, as there are still questions unanswered. Our next critical date is the staff report which will detail exactly what will be changed in the Planned Development (PD) and we will not have that available to us until July 15.  As noted at the Town Hall Meeting last evening, we have found many discrepancies in the last report and wish to ensure they are corrected before presenting to the County Commissioners.

Your concerns remain, and we continue to move forward to address them. However, your support is critical to succeeding! We need you to be seen and heard and hope that you can make the time to support our community at the July 22, 2025, BCC meeting where the final decisions will be approved.

A recap of the meeting and the discussion points and concerns that remain:

· The applicant has agreed to remove the dock constructions along the entire Interconnector Waterway and Butterford Waterway. All slips and dock space will be at the proposed Marina. We are tracking this to ensure this becomes a PD condition upheld by the BCC on July 22, 2025.

· The major concern of continued destruction of wetlands and natural habitat was raised by many.  We understand the sensitivity and are willing to take this to the state agency as well. The suggestion of a 100 ft setback of preserved land along the waterway in perpetuity was raised.  The applicant has stated they will take this back to the Corporate HQ to see what can be done on this request. A request for proper signage was also raised.

· Water quality and Environmental impact of the Marina was a major concern raised. A discussion was had, the applicants' representatives addressed this, and the design will require input from multiple state and federal agencies to ensure the maintenance of the water quality.

· Flooding due to the urban addition at that site continues to be a major concern.  The representative from Atwell Engineering spent about 25 minutes explaining the solutions and method to minimize any impact to existing water and flooding issues.  He covered the effects of fluvial flooding (fresh water), Coastal flooding (due to storm surges) and compound flooding.

· The enforcement of “NO docks” installations was raised and noted below.  The community is not convinced that just because they say there will be no docks along the interconnector, that it is actually true and want this in writing.  This spurred the following, sometime heated, discussions:

o How can the community believe what is being proposed.  We were told there is conserved land surrounding both Harbor West and Harbor East, yet docks are being built that are not only jutting 50 – 60 ft into a manmade waterway, but the destruction of natural habitat run rampant! People actually clearing and burning the growth right on the water, destruction of known mangroves, etc.…

o Species of birds and water wildlife have now had their habitat obliterated, once it is gone it is gone, and it appears no government agency takes responsibility for the wanton destruction.  It was made clear we need to raise this with the BCC and other state organizations; there MUST be accountability.  Enforcement is key!

· The impact on vehicle traffic was raised and a detailed traffic study will be needed, and specific traffic lights were already planned.  It will require more coordination with FDOT on McCall Rd.

· Possible no wake zones, speed limits and boater safety were all raised during the discussions. Any modification to the existing safe operation speeds would be at the direction of Charlotte County in conjunction with FWC, USCG, and CCSO Marine Patrol. The developer has no input or involvement in this.

· How can we remove natural habitat considered part of a conservation and replace it with rip rap and have no impact other than a $1500 fine.  This applies to the destruction of mangroves and improperly installed docks. Again, this is an enforcement issue with the County and State.

· Issues on installation of seawalls and rip rap were also raised.  A discussion was had, and no seawalls are allowed to be built with the exception of what would be needed inside the proposed Marina.  No seawalls could be installed on the Interconnector or Butterford waterways.

· A question was raised to provide a contact list so that citizens can call the proper agencies and file compliance reports.  We will investigate this further, but this already exists on the HOA website.

Although this captures the major points raised during the Town Hall, we still need your support and welcome your input. We continue to try and work on behalf of the Friends of South Gulf Cove to protect our small paradise.

Original Re-zoning Presentation of Harbor Village 05/07/2025