news Archives - Palm Island Estates

WCIND Meeting Summary

January 23, 2026

A meeting with the WCIND (West Coast Inland Navigational District) was held today at 10:00 a.m. at the Venice Police Station to discuss the proposed second ferry landing at 100 Kettle Harbor Drive. More than 30 Palm Island residents attended, with 11 Islanders speaking in opposition to the proposed location.

While individual speakers shared different perspectives, the concerns raised were consistent:

Proximity to homes
The proposed landing would be extremely close to private residences, in some cases within 20 to 40 feet of bedroom windows.
Incompatibility with a residential area
Residents described the site as unsuitable for commercial use and questioned why it was considered at all.
Noise, light, and air pollution
Speakers raised concerns about ongoing operational impacts that would disrupt the quiet and peaceful character of the neighborhood.
Safety and traffic issues
The narrow, unpaved access road and sharp curve were cited as already dangerous and ill suited for increased traffic and ferry activity.
Environmental concerns
Residents questioned the need for dredging and the potential impact on an environmentally stable area.
Property value impacts
Many stated the ferry landing would significantly reduce property values and affect future resale.

WCIND Commissioner Discussion

After public comments concluded, the WCIND commissioners discussed three potential ferry locations, including 100 Kettle Harbor Drive. All three commissioners expressed agreement with Islanders that the Kettle Harbor site is not appropriate for a ferry landing. They described the location as functionally problematic and fundamentally different from the current ferry landing, particularly due to its placement within a residential neighborhood.

However, Commissioners Tiseo and Cutsinger noted that while they do not support the Kettle Harbor location, they are not opposed to considering other potential locations for a second ferry and called the current ferry a “monopoly.”

Other Locations Discussed

Current ferry landing
Commissioners noted ongoing uncertainty regarding ownership and property interests related to the existing ferry site and associated mainland properties. WCIND stated that a real estate attorney has been engaged to clarify ownership and determine WCIND’s interests moving forward.
North end of the island
A larger parcel on the north end of the island was discussed, but commissioners noted that it presents significant challenges, including access via a private road, which would prevent it from being a viable location.

Vote and Outcome

Following this discussion, a motion was made to deny the proposed ferry leasing agreement for the 100 Kettle Harbor Drive parcel. The motion passed unanimously, with all commissioners voting in favor and none opposed.

Lastly, the topic of community notification was also discussed. While commissioners acknowledged that WCIND is not legally required to notify nearby residents, several agreed that doing so would be the courteous and appropriate approach and emphasized the importance of listening to community input.

WCIND Commissioners in Attendance

Joe Tiseo, Charlotte County
Ron Cutsinger, Sarasota County
Kevin Ruane, Lee County
Jason Bearden, Manatee County

WANTED: Sea Turtle Patrollers!

January 12, 2026

Are you ready to embark on an exhilarating adventure along our beautiful coastline? We’re seeking enthusiastic individuals to join our dedicated Don Pedro/Palm Island/Knight Island turtle team – Coastal Wildlife Club.

What You’ll Do:

Track the Tracks: Experience the thrill of discovering fresh sea turtle tracks in the early morning sands—each trail a mysterious puzzle. Later, looking for tiny hatchling tracks.
Contribute to Conservation: Use a specialized data application to log crucial information, helping protect these magnificent creatures for generations to come.
Build Lifelong Friendships: Connect with fellow nature nerds who share your interest for ocean life and conservation.
No prior experience needed—just a love for nature, an eye for detail, and a spirit of adventure. You will learn daily on the job and also from FWC required training.

Learn more about turtle patroller expectations >

Join Coastal Wildlife Club today and be part of something bigger! Help us safeguard sea turtles, one track at a time.

You can get in touch via email: carol@realmccoys.org

Patrols will begin April 15.

Sea Turtles are protected under the Endangered Species Act. All sea turtle work is conducted under authorized permits. MTP-132.

Download our flyer to spread the word >

Proposed Freedom Transit Ferry

January 3, 2026

What We Know So Far

Freedom Transit has not provided a business plan, operational plan, traffic or safety analysis, or environmental review. Here is the information we do have:

Two public Facebook posts from August outlining a proposed ferry concept.
Meeting notes from a recent WCIND meeting where a long-term lease for an on-island ferry landing at 100 Kettle Harbor Drive was discussed (Meeting Agenda)
The formation of FREEDOM TRANSIT CORP. as a for-profit LLC
PIE has reached our the Freedom Transit about participating in a town hall style meeting with islanders.

What Palm Island Estates (PIE) Is Doing

PIE is requesting a pause on any action related to the proposed Freedom Transit ferry from both the West Coast Inland Navigation District (WCIND) and Charlotte Country Commissioners. If you would like to read that letter and view the related attachments, it is available here >

While PIE is not taking a position for or against a second ferry service at this time:

We feel island residents have not been provided sufficient information to determine whether a second ferry service is desired or in the community’s best interest.
We are opposed to moving forward without transparency, community engagement, and a complete business and operational plan shared with island residents.
We believe the proposed location for a ferry landing at 100 Kettle Harbor Drive is fundamentally inappropriate due to:
- Its immediate proximity to homes
- Inadequate on-site capacity that could force vehicles onto the road
- Serious traffic safety risks at a narrow, blind corner on Kettle Harbor Drive

What You Can Do:

Island residents are encouraged to express concerns about the proposed ferry landing or the proposal moving forward without adequate information.

Attend the upcoming WCIND meeting
The proposed lease is expected to be discussed January 23rd at 10am at the Venice Police Station located at 1575 E. Venice Avenue, Venice, FL.

Write the WCIND Commissioners

Christopher Constance – Chris.Constance@CharlotteCountyFL.gov
Ron Cutsinger – rcutsinger@scgov.net
Jason Bearden – jason.bearden@mymanatee.org
Kevin Ruane – dist1@leegov.com

Copy and paste this list for your email program:
Chris.Constance@CharlotteCountyFL.gov, rcutsinger@scgov.net, jason.bearden@mymanatee.org, dist1@leegov.com

Right-of-Way Town Hall Meeting Notes

September 5, 2025

On Saturday August 18th, Charlotte County hosted a town hall meeting to address the ordinance on road rights of way.

Read the official Charlotte County Meeting Notes >

John Elias, Director of Public Works, led the meeting. He was accompanied by Joanne Vernon, County Engineer, Karlene McDonald, Public Works Operations Manager, and Karly Greene, M&O management. About 35 Islanders attended.

Mr. Elias led off with a discussion of challenges related to the Island. While recognizing the unique charm of the island, he pointed out that the County-maintained sand and shell roads we have here require a special road grooming contract. (He smiled and added this was “bonkers to me”.)

The sand roads had to be surveyed to make sure that the roads did not extend beyond the rights of way. While acknowledging the traffic calming properties of winding roads, Mr. Elias said that the meandering of the roads within the ROW was considered unfair by the County. It extended the ROW in front of some houses and shortened it in front of others. This led to the first vote: would Islanders prefer the meandering roads or have the roads straightened uniformly? All of the Islanders voted in favor of the winding roads.

He moved on to the two key concerns regarding ROW encroachments:

Safety. A 10-ft clear area, known as a “recovery area”, is required by the County ordinance. It gives space in the shoulder of the road for a car to pull over if necessary.
Beach access parking. Beach nourishment funding is contingent on having 50 parking stalls available per public access, 10′ deep running parallel to the road. Download a PDF of those beach parking areas >

Discussion of cleared recovery areas:
Until now, code violation enforcement was complaint driven. However, the County Attorney has stated that enforcement of the code cannot be selective due to the risk of lawsuits. If Islanders want the code enforced, it must be done uniformly. Complaints cannot be anonymous. To be compliant with code, you must pull a permit or get a variance for ROW encroachments.

Two attendees expressed support of clearing the road ROWs Island-wide. Many expressed concerns raised during the sewer issue, such as the potential environmental damage.

Mr. Elias said that low vegetation such as grasses and ground cover, is acceptable in the ROWs. These are “non-frangible” obstructions.

Discussion of restoring parking areas:
Parking area recovery impacts North Gulf and South Gulf boulevards. Some of the beachfront owners felt it was unfair to be singled out for ROW clearing. Others understood that this was necessary. It was generally agreed that beach access parking was important due to the funding requirements and essential dune restoration is tied to the beach renourishment project.

Conclusion
It was suggested that the transportation engineer look for the minimum measurement for a clear zone. The County will post the July 2024 established parking map online.

One Islander called the situation an unsolvable problem for which we have to find a solution. Mr. Elias pointed out that there is always a solution but added “if we did it the way we do it everywhere else, no one would like it.”

There will be another town hall to address ROW encroachment scheduled this Fall.

Helpful Links:
Don Pedro and Knight Islands Street and Drainage Unit
Don Pedro and Knight Islands Beach Renourishment Unit

Right-of-Way Town Hall Summary

August 4, 2025

Our impression of the Right of Ways Town Hall Meeting.
By most accounts, it was a disaster. Nearly everyone walked away angry and for different reasons. Many felt that the head of Public Works did not seem well informed. So how did this happen?

Let’s start with the facts.

There is an ordinance that requires a permit or variance to work within the right of ways.
ROW encroachment without a permit or variance is a code violation that is complaint driven. However, the County stopped allowing complaints to be anonymous. Some residents felt uncomfortable identifying themselves in complaints, so they went to the R&B committee. The chair filed the complaints on their behalf.
Why were there complaints? Because most of the violations impeded parking near the beach easements. Islanders want to be able to park their golf carts near the accesses. Other issues involved safety, road maintenance and drainage.

So, why was there a meeting?

The County stopped enforcing the ROW ordinance and would not resume until they felt they had “guidance” from the community. Many Islanders did not know there was even a problem. But early on in the meeting, it was clear that there were two separate issues that were being merged together.

Parking. Beach renourishment funding is contingent on a fixed number of parking spaces available near the public beach accesses. Download a PDF of those parking spaces. This is a clear, shelled area on both sides of the road that was established and mapped when the funding was first approved.
Safety. A clear ROW provides a place for a vehicle or pedestrian to get off the road if suddenly needed. Things allowed in an ROW must yield on impact, such as low vegetation.

What was controversial?

Parking primarily impacts beachfront owners. Some feel they are being singled out for code enforcement when there are violations Island-wide.
Many homeowners inherited landscaped ROWs and don’t want to clear them.

To complicate the safety issue, the head of Public Works acknowledged that narrower, winding roads with vegetation on the sides is a “traffic calming” technique that slows down speeders.

Was there a resolution?

Not really. Someone called ROW encroachment “an insoluble problem that needs a solution.” The County’s solution is to hold two town hall meetings and gather input from the community. They will then present their recommendations to the County Commissioners who will then vote on the action to be taken.

The first town hall was held on August 18th. There will be another public meeting organized by the County in the Fall.

Read a detailed account of the ROW meeting >

01.11.24 The County’s “Islands Accessibility Study”

January 24, 2024

No one expected this.

It was supposed to be a “Drop-In Input Event” at the Mac V. Horton West County Annex. — an opportunity for Islanders to offer some comments and ask the County questions about Island accessibility. But despite the cold rain, nearly 60 Islanders from Knight-Don Pedro-Thornton Key-Palm Island and Little Gasparilla Island “dropped in” en masse prepared to hear all about the “Bridgeless Barrier Islands Accessibility Study” proposed by the County.

Where it all started.

County representatives Jenny Buccieri, Project Manager from the Facilities Construction & Maintenance Dept. and Shaun Cullinan, Planning & Zoning official, made their best efforts to rise to the occasion. Peppered with input ranging from complaints to pleas for assistance, they began with a brief explanation of how this all began. They leaned into the narrative that the study was initiated by the Board of County Commissioners, in response to concerns about access directed to their offices. Residents of LGI filled in the narrative with accounts of the loss of a ferry landing area for post-Hurricane Ian repairs. Eldred’s marina continues to be for sale, which complicates barge availability, docking and mainland parking for LGI property owners.

The Feasibility Study.

Ms. Buccieri read the Request for Letters of Interest for a feasibility study “for providing access to service the barrier islands of Charlotte County.” The audience was told that an engineer had already been retained and the “Drop-In Input Event” was the first part of the first phase (Public Input Process) of the study. It was explained that the County mailed postcards to solicit participation among property owners and related businesses of the Islands.

There was an audible response when she read that the possible project elements may include “Restroom Facility”. It was made clear that the current focus was accessibility and the services listed in the project elements may be addressed later.

The controversy.

The most controversial notion introduced by the County reps was the perception of LGI, Thornton Key, DPI, Knight & Palm Islands as one Island. Mr. Cullinan explained that infrastructure and accessibility projects were very costly and needing a wider tax base, the County attempts to broaden the base to be more inclusive. This brought on a wave of commentary pointing out to the speakers that we are unique and individual islands with very different needs and wants. Calls went out to visit the Islands. Discrepancies in the County map were discussed. Mr. Cullinan indicated that the next survey to be sent as part of the study may attempt to segregate the responses by area.

The takeaways.

The residents of Little Gasparilla were clear that their needs were minimal. They require barge access for basic services — passage for septic pump-out trucks and FPL repair trucks — that are consistent. Robert Hill, who has been working to provide barge service to LGI, simply asks the County NOT to remove commercial access at the Placida Point landing that will be under construction soon.

While some complaints were aired about the Palm Island private ferry, the consensus seemed to lean in the direction of the status quo. The audience was told that PIT was currently not involved, and that LGI could be the focus for better access.

The consensus.

Palm Islanders sympathized with LGI’s access issues and support their efforts to serve their needs. They also expressed the north Islands’ wish to keep Palm Island access contained as it stands now. All agreed that the County will need to find more creative solutions to address the funding challenges of access, and that they need to recognize the discreet barrier islands that they have been treating as one. Finally, the priority expressed by all of our Island neighbors was to preserve our Island lifestyle, whichever island we happen to live on.

A special thank you to Blake Smereczynsky for his excellent notes from the meeting today.

Raves for the Station 10 Potluck!

September 18, 2023

What a blast. On Saturday September 16th around 70 Islanders got together for an old-school Island style potluck party. Folks bought T-shirts and raffle tickets for a special Potluck logo tumbler. The Island Art Cart was on display so folks could add their personal artistic touch. Oldtimers and newcomers communed together, and a good time was had by all.

Island Info Central: The Old Station 10 Property

August 26, 2023

Saturday, August 26, 2023, hosted by Mike Riley and Linda Cotherman (Bocilla Islands Conservancy, Inc.), Meryl Schaffer (Palm Island Estates Association, Inc.)

30 Islanders gathered on a hot, sunny morning for a town hall meeting on the old fire house property. Island Info Central kicked off with a welcome greeting from PIE President Meryl Schaffer. She introduced special guests Eddie Diaz (Charlotte County Firefighter), Deputy Billy Prummell and Battalion Chief Matt McElroy.

Her first topic was the special place the old Station 10 had in the community. Past uses for all Islanders included:

Lending library/reading room
Medical closet for equipment (walkers, crutches, etc)
Volunteer firefighters office
Social events i.e. Halloween Kids Pizza Parties, spaghetti dinners, etc.
Town Hall Meetings
PIE and other Island organization meetings
Demonstration gardens for native and Florida-friendly plantings
Memorial trees, benches and plaques

These uses came to an end after the building was remodeled for paid firefighter coverage approx. 10 years ago.

Next came the question of why PIE was not seeking ownership of the property.

PIE is a 501(c)4 organization. Donations are not tax-deductible which would be an impediment to fundraising.
PIE’s by-laws restrict the Board from encumbering future Boards with debt without the approval of 2/3 of the membership.

Mike Riley, BICI Treasurer, addressed two items: What is BICI’s fundraising target and what is the Conservancy planning on doing with the property if purchased?

BICI can’t reveal capital campaign target numbers publicly because it would give competitors an unfair advantage.
So far BICI has received support from over 120 donors.
Donations for this project are restricted to Station 10 purchase and will be refunded if BICI does not acquire the firehouse property.
Multiple options are being explored based on funding availability:
1. Building remodel restoring entire building
2. Building remodel without the enclosed bottom level
3. Demolish building and replace with open pavilion
4. The grounds will become a “mini-park” consistent with the Charlotte 2050 Plan and the County Parks and Recreation updated parks concept.
Needs engineering inspection to determine structural integrity of the building.
Building will likely exceed 50% damage and have to be brought up to current code.
None of these options are cheap. It will be a substantial financial commitment requiring a lot of community support.

Question: Does the use of the property as a community hub violate any zoning restrictions?
Answer: Linda Cotherman told the group that the County modified zoning regulations in 2014 and established the BBI (bridgeless barrier island) designation for our Islands and Little Gasparilla. There are no special exemptions needed at this time for using the property as proposed for the community.

Comment: An audience member expressed concern that removing the property from the tax rolls might impact other Island owners’ taxes and deprive a future owner of an Island home.
Response: Robin Madden said that the loss of one property will not impact the County as they bring in a large volume of tourism taxes from the Island. Linda Cotherman explained that it will not impact other Island owners since our property taxes are County-wide which will minimize the impact to the tax rolls.

Question: If PIE owns the beach easements, why can’t they purchase the fire house?
Answer: The beach easements are guaranteed access for all Island owners as set down in the plat maps of the Palm Island Estates development. They are established rights in perpetuity regardless of who owns the land beneath. Simply having PIE own the fire house would not provide the same guarantee. As a 501(C)3 organization, the Conservancy would not only preserve the property for community use but if for any reason BICI had a future dissolution their assets would be guaranteed to transfer to a comparable, non-profit land trust.

Comment: An audience member pointed out that the last-minute notice by the County was not by deliberate design.
Response: Correct. BICI and PIE were initially told that the sale of the fire house was a low priority, which was true. However, when the estimates for the 2024 Fire & EMS taxes were released Charlotte County got a lot of pushback from property owners. Their response was to try to reduce the $54/year tax increase by selling off the excess fire house properties. That is what speeded things up. In addition, the Fire Advisory Committee is restricted to quarterly meetings which slowed down the process.

Question: What is the Island Fellowship Church’s involvement with the property?
Answer: This was addressed by Pastor Sammie Brooks of the Island Fellowship Church.

IFC wants ownership to have a building for their church to be able to guarantee their need for use on Sundays and control management of the space.
There are obstacles that they need to resolve before bidding on the property. Houses of worship have strict regulations related to parking. The IFC is trying to get the regulations adapted for golf cart parking. NOTE: “mini-park” use does not have these parking restrictions.
Demolishing the building would not serve their needs.
Too many contingencies to make a decision now.

Commission delays bid closing

August 6, 2023

On Tuesday, August 1st the County Commission met for their Regular and Land Use Meeting and got an appeal from Mike Riley representing the Bocilla Islands Conservancy, Inc. [BICI] Mike presented a petition of approx. 100 signatures and pitched a moratorium on the bid.

When the Commissioner Comments got underway, Commissioner Tiseo spoke about the long and costly process to build the new firehouse. He indicated that he had no objection to negotiating with BICI but expressed that he wished to “backfill some of the cost with the sale of the old property”. He mentioned that, while the residents paid for a large portion of the new firehouse there was also sales tax money applied to the land purchase and building. The key for the Commissioners is to find the “right number” so that they are not underselling the old Station 10 property. The Conservancy is also looking for the right number so they are not overpaying for the property, so it seems there should be room for negotiation.

As a net result, the bid closure has been moved forward to September 20, 2023 at 2:00 PM. CLICK HERE to view addendum for bid extension.

CLICK HERE if you would like to view the video of the Commission meeting. You may use the index at the bottom of the page to go to “1:00 PM Public Input any Subject” or “DD-County Commissioner Comments”. Or you can use the video slide bar to forward to the following timecodes: Mike Riley’s presentation at 3.14.50 (out of 4.21.00) and Commissioner Tiseo’s commentary at 3.38.34 (out of 4.21.00).

BICI proposes negotiations for old Station 10 grounds

July 24, 2023

Our Island Conservancy, BICI, was in the process of establishing negotiations with Charlotte County over the future disposition of the old firehouse when the property suddenly went out to bid. We urge the Island stakeholders to support BICI in its efforts. The proposal to Charlotte County appears below:

Proposal for the old Station 10 Fire House on Don Pedro Island

We are writing to you today to formally request that you pause the Sale of County-Owned Building – Fire Station #10 (File No 23-627) and open discussions with the Bocilla Islands Conservancy, Inc. [BICI]. A successful negotiation will allow the old firehouse property to continue to serve the Island community.

On May 23, 2023, we provided an initial offer of $19,800 to purchase the property, which constitutes a figure roughly equal to the County’s initial purchase price. In 1989 the property was purchased by Island Residents and sold to the County one year later at cost.

Why putting this property out for bid is premature.

While a quick sale might seem attractive to the County in the short term, this solution does not consider the wider view of what is potentially involved with the sale of this specific property.
We acknowledge that the cash proceeds of a quick sale to a private buyer would on its face be equitable, in that it would return cash dollars to the broader community. However, the ultimate buy-price may not compare to the potential value to be gained by the County by pursuing an offer from the conservancy.

There are several factors that are likely to reduce the bids for this acquisition. For example,

The property has been advertised as a 3,220 sq. ft. building. However, the building is unsafe and has been designated by the County itself as a total loss. It is currently sealed off with police tape for safety purposes and to prevent further vandalism.
Bidders will reduce their offers for the property by the future cost to the buyer for the demolition and debris removal, inclusive of the pilings and the slab.
The water provision for the old firehouse property would need to be addressed. The large size of the inflow pipe puts the monthly base cost for water provision substantially higher than a residential connection. it’s an unknown factor how the private water utility will handle the conversion from firehouse to residential unit.
The bid has been advertised as including a 120 sq. ft. shed on the property, which the County does not own. This is private property, owned by Palm Island Estates Association, Inc., which has been sited on this property with the permission of Charlotte County for the past nearly 20 years.

All of the above will serve to reduce the ultimate buy price for the property. What remains of the cash will be further diminished by the complications that will invariably arise related to the sale of this property. One of these is the lack of a guarantee that the new owner will raze the building in a timely manner. Surrounding properties are in jeopardy from large wind-borne debris. And public safety is compromised until this building is gone.

How returning the property to the community benefits the stakeholders.

While the County may consider the sale of the property “fiscally responsible” in that the proceeds will go back to the County, acquisition of the property by a land conservancy is inarguably of public benefit. The Bocilla Islands Conservancy Inc. is a non-profit, tax exempt 501(C)3 public charity whose purpose is consistent with land preservation goals for the bridgeless barrier Islands as outlined in Smart Charlotte 2050.

BICI’s intentions for the old firehouse property dovetails with the Charlotte County Parks and Recreation Master Plan. From 1991 to the present, the old Station 10 has been the Island’s de facto community center, used for meetings, classes, demonstration gardens, memorial gardens, environmental education and more. These are essentially the same uses described in the Parks & Rec. Master Plan under the description of “mini-parks.”

BICI wants to continue the traditional use of the old firehouse property as our community gathering area. If the pilings and slab remain, a covered area could be created that meets the criteria for a mini-park as outlined in the Parks plan. It would be far less costly to work with the existing remains of the old firehouse property than to establish a new mini-park and community area in the future. And one of the primary permitted principal uses in the BBI special zoning district is for “non-profit parks and playgrounds”.

BICI is working in cooperation with the 225-member Palm Island Estates Association, Inc. PIE supports this proposal, as it would provide a conveniently located site for the many Island social and educational gatherings in the community.

How returning the property to the community benefits the public.

This “mini-park” would serve many more people than other comparably sized park in other neighborhoods because both visitors and renters attend these events. Our Islands are home to hundreds of rental units, and in any given season thousands of visitors and residents would potentially use this interactive space.

Instead of placing what will amount to a fraction of a cent in the pocket of each Charlotte County taxpayer, the County has the opportunity to provide great benefit to the ongoing tourist industry on these Barrier Islands. This potentially translates into future bed tax improvement for the County’s taxpayers.

Summary
We therefore urge you to stop the bid and open negotiations with BICI to determine the future disposition of this property. We believe that there is a solution that will provide the community with the continued use of the property while providing the County with a fiscally responsible way to provide public benefit.