Public hearing set for controversial Captiva resort rezoning

The owners of the South Seas resort — and those opposing it — will go before the Lee County Commission on Aug. 6 after a county Hearing Examiner recommended approval of a zoning application for the nearly $1 billion redevelopment July 11. 

The ownership group wants to build 435 hotel rooms across two hotels on the property. The north hotel, which is replacing the former Harborside Hotel, will have 225 rooms. The south hotel will have 210 rooms and replace the former conference center. Plans also call for 193 multifamily residential units.

To allow for this, the owners are looking to rezone 120.5-acres of the property from residential multifamily, marine commercial and two-family conservation to mixed use planned development, according to an agenda for the public hearing.

Those opposed to the plans argue that increasing building heights and density will alter the character of Captiva.

WS SSIR Holdings, a joint ownership group which includes Timbers Co, Wheelock Street Capital and The Ronto Group, bought the 330-acre South Seas Island Resort (as it was then known) in 2021 for $50.38 million.

It closed on the sale 364 days before Hurricane Ian hit the area, causing extensive damage and creating new regulatory requirements.

South Seas lost 22 support structures, including the hotel, housekeeping facilities, offices, tennis courts and maintenance facilities in the storm.