Hearing Examiner - May 19, 2026

The Cape Coral Hearing Examiner convened on May 19, 2026, to consider several land use and zoning matters, including deviations and amendments related to residential and educational properties. Key procurement-related discussions involved a request by the Lee County School District for four landscaping deviations at the Hector K. Calfer Junior K-8 school to reduce required canopy trees, shrubs, and parking lot landscaping for safety and budgetary reasons. The school district cited safety concerns and budget constraints, requesting relief from standard landscaping requirements, with an estimated landscaping cost of $157,644. Staff recommended denial of these deviations due to negative impacts on community appearance and public welfare. Additionally, the hearing addressed a privately initiated rezoning request to change two parcels from agricultural to single-family residential zoning to facilitate development, with staff recommending approval. Other cases included a deviation request for a boat canopy length and a planned development amendment to eliminate minimum lot width requirements for two residential lots. The hearing examiner took all testimony and evidence under advisement and planned to issue decisions promptly. No contract awards or vendor selections were discussed, but the school district's landscaping deviation request reflects potential future procurement impacts related to public school construction and maintenance.