Water-Related News

Rule change allowing Captiva mansion wins backing; lawyer says no 'backroom deal'

A divided Lee County advisory board has endorsed making changes in county development rules that would ease the way for construction of a million-dollar mansion on Upper Captiva.

On a 3-2 vote, the Local Planning Agency recommended an end to county regulations over the placement of septic tanks on the environmentally sensitive Gulf of Mexico coastline.

The landowner's attorney told the county planning agency his client did not go looking for special consideration, as neighbors and environmentalists criticized the speedy process of the rule change proposal after rejection of a building permit on the 75- by 233-foot parcel at 530 Gulf Lane.