Residents question mangrove clearing near Seven Islands project in Cape Coral

Residents in Cape Coral are raising concerns after mangroves were uprooted along the North Spreader Canal, with the Army Corps of Engineers confirming no permits were issued for the removal of these coastal trees. David Scott, a Cape Coral resident, said he was shocked to see the damage while boating on Friday. “And that cute little fella right there, hopefully that'll be in the print news. And the caption will be, at least they left us one right. At least they left us one,” Scott said. Scott emphasized the importance of mangroves to the community. “And these guys right here, they hold so much together. It is the soul. It is the spirit of our community. And, like I say, it'll be interesting to hear what the devil happened here,” he said. Residents walking near Tropicana Park said the mangroves have protected their homes during hurricanes and expressed concerns about safety as the Seven Islands development project progresses. John Smart, with the Northwest Cape Coral Neighborhood Association, who works closely with the developers, said the project had permits and stressed the developers’ focus on mangrove preservation. “I don't even think people in the Cape know how nice this is going to be, how luxurious things like that. As far as you know, what they're doing, clearing the land. I know they had permits that were approved, probably last week,” Smart said. However, the Army Corps of Engineers confirmed that no permits were issued for the removal of mangroves and stated that impacts to these wetland trees were not part of the proposed project design. Smart reiterated the developers’ commitment to protecting the mangroves. “I know that they want to protect the mangroves, and so that's something they're really pushing for. So if it happened, I'm sure it's a mistake, you know, but I don't know,” he said. The City of Cape Coral acknowledged hearing about the work being put on hold but referred inquiries to the developer and the Army Corps. The developer’s agent reported to the Army Corps that work has stopped for now. The Corps stated that the project’s application is currently in withdrawn status, pending a design change.DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.