Part 6: The Model Plan – Sanibel’s 50th Anniversary Stories “The Way We Were”

December 16, 2024 – The Sanibel Historical Museum & Village is celebrating the City of Sanibel’s 50^th anniversary – and its own 40^th anniversary – by focusing on “The Way We Were,” which will be the theme of the museum’s February 18 fundraiser.

To complement the museum’s new exhibit showcasing the city’s incorporation, the museum is working on a series of articles outlining how the city came to be.

This is the Conclusion, Part 6, The Model Plan

Countless volunteer citizens and City Staff working with established environmental planning professionals and legal counsel spent two years developing the Sanibel Comprehensive Land Use Plan – an internationally recognized model that has succeeded in controlling growth to preserve unique natural resources. Professional consultant firm Wallace McHarg Roberts & Todd (WMRT) with headquarters in Philadelphia, did the work on the plan aided substantially by the Washington, D.C.-based Conservation Foundation; the Sanibel City Council; the Sanibel Planning Commission; and with assistance from many island volunteers.

Support for the Plan was strong, with 86 percent in favor, though some with reservations, and just 4 percent opposed (10 percent had no comment). The Sanibel Plan was enthusiastically enacted and continues to be accepted and workable over 48 years later. It was a total community effort to achieve a consensus goal. Democracy does work, and Sanibel remains a true barrier island sanctuary.

The Sanibel Plan gave us these mandates:

• Only 35 percent of island land can be developed while 65 percent must remain in sanctuary preserve.
• Buildings can be no higher than four stories.
• A maximum of 9,000 living units on four levels (condos, apartments, hotel rooms, and single-family homes).
• No franchises on island (the franchises on the island were grandfathered prior to 1974).

Sanibel is the only island in the world adhering to these four major mandates.

An editorial in the November 8, 1974, Island Reporter stated, “From this day forth look upon the beaches of the island, the roadways, the shopping areas, the utilities, the waterways and the wetlands – and say, these are ours to protect and preserve. They belong to all of us, of whatever means or occupations – and we can take the whole bundle and make it into one of the most progressive cities in the state of Florida … If the challenge is picked up, the city of Sanibel has an exciting and promising future for all of us.”

Indeed, that paper quoted an observer from the mainland saying, “This new City of Sanibel is a remarkable animal. Never have I seen such unselfish, civic-minded loyalty and dedication from the citizens. It’s just unbelievable.”

A new exhibit at the museum, located in Shore Haven, has a timeline showing the events leading up to the incorporation of the City of Sanibel. Sanibel became a city on November 5, 1974; the first City Council was elected December 3,1974 and held its first meeting on December 16, 1974. The comprehensive land-use plan was approved by City Council on July 19, 1976.

Visit the museum to see “The Way We Were.” Save the date of February 18 to celebrate the Historical Village’s 40^th anniversary and the City’s 50^th anniversary at the museum’s gala fundraiser.