Stop-work order issued for Seven Islands project after unpermitted mangrove removal in Cape Coral

The Seven Islands development in northwest Cape Coral has been ordered to stop work after mangroves were removed without proper permits, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Last Monday, the Army Corps confirmed that developers did not have the necessary permits to remove the mangroves.

A permit issued by the City of Cape Coral authorized the removal of invasive vegetation, not mangroves. The Army Corps said the contractor operated under this permit, and the developer was unaware of the issue.

Samantha Dimic, who moved to Cape Coral five months ago, shared her concerns about the unpermitted removal.

"Without a permit, that means that they just went ahead and did what they wanted to do. They didn't take in any consideration on any factor, and that is not OK," Dimic said.

Amy Parsons and Gilbert Ramos visited the site after hearing about the mangrove removal and the halt in work.

"Well, we were curious about what happened to the mangroves. That's what brought us here today," Ramos said.

Parsons, who has lived in northwest Cape Coral for 20 years, said the area could benefit from the proposed development, which includes shops, restaurants, and luxury waterfront living.

"We need something up here. I've been here in the northwest for 20 years now, and there's really not much in between the south and Punta Gorda," Parsons said.

The South Florida Water Management District issued a stop-work order notice to the developers, according to the Army Corps. Officials confirmed there are no active permits or previous authorizations for the project.

Attempts to reach the developers for comment have been unsuccessful.