Cape Coral builder hoping for change as audit moves forward

CAPE CORAL, Fla. (WINK) - A Cape Coral builder says he is hopeful the city's permitting process will improve amid an ongoing audit of the city's building department. 

In November, state lawmakers called for an audit of the City of Cape Coral, citing concerns that the city's building department had misused funds. 

Now, a builder is speaking out about delays with the department's permitting process, which he says has impacted his business. 

Matt Sinclair, president of Sinclair Custom Homes, said building in Cape Coral is difficult. 

"About a year and a half ago, I had the first permit of the year," Sinclair said. "It was issued in January, as I applied for it, I didn't get it back till, I think, September or October, so nine months."

Sinclair said the delays have cost him significant amounts of money.

"I probably lost hundreds of thousands of dollars over the years, just waiting on the city to do stuff, you know, and that, in effect, costs the consumer more money," Sinclair said.

Due to these issues, Sinclair said he and other builders have turned to private providers or opted to work only on developments in Lee County. 

"I think they're trying to make improvements on it, but it's been really harsh, and the damage is already done."

In December, Cape Coral City Manager Michael Ilczyszyn published a rebuttal denying all claims in the audit, including allegations of outdated software, a $10 million issue related to a failed building purchase, and nearly $3 million in unexplained fund transfers.

"The $10 million that was moved into a capital project fund was for, actually, to build a building," Ilcyszyn told WINK News in November. "When I became city manager, I changed direction. I was able to find a commercial building that was for sale that actually saved the building fund money."

At the time, Ilczyszyn told WINK News the city welcomes the audit.

Meanwhile, Sinclair says attempts to speak directly with Ilczyszyn about his concerns have gone unanswered.

"I've reached out to him over the last year and a half at his office to ask him to give me a call," he said. "Never got a call back."

However, as the audit progresses, Sinclair remains hopeful that changes will be implemented to make the building process easier in Cape Coral.

"There are so many builders that have lost thousands and millions of dollars because of delays and stuff like that, you know, so it's a lot of people really wanting to be hopeful," he said.

WINK News is committed to following this story and will update you as more information becomes available.