The Committee of the Islands works to ensure good local government, protect the environment, and preserve the sanctuary character of our barrier island community.
In the early 1970s, Lee County's plans would have transformed Sanibel: ten times today's housing, a projected population of 90,000, and a four-lane highway down the island's center. Residents organized — and on November 5, 1974, 63.6% voted to incorporate as an independent city.
By July 1975, the leaders of that movement formed the Committee of the Islands, created to represent the interests of island residents.
One of the new city's first acts was creating the Sanibel Plan — a land use code built around the island's unique ecology, still guiding Sanibel today. Development would be far less intense than county officials once imagined, with maximum protection for sensitive areas like mangroves and wetlands.
When legal battles nearly bankrupted the young city, 124 residents — many of them COTI members — personally contributed over $300,000 to keep Sanibel afloat.
Read the Sanibel Plan →
Fifty years of showing up — at council meetings, in planning sessions, and alongside our neighbors. Expand any item to learn more.
In 1978, COTI developed and promoted the Rate of Growth Ordinance to manage the flood of building permit requests in Sanibel's earliest years as an independent city.
Opposed a major resort and shopping center planned for Bailey Road and Periwinkle. The project was abandoned, and after a voter referendum, the City acquired the land — now Pond Apple Park.
Actively supported revisions to the Land Development Code that established the ground rules for redeveloping aging structures in the Resort Housing District.
Pushed for design standards for redeveloped resorts, which grew into broader legislation covering all multifamily, commercial, and institutional development on Sanibel.
Led efforts to restrict commercial bus use on Sanibel, resulting in legislation regulating bus parking and loading/unloading at the City's beach parking lots.
In 2005, COTI members wrote and passed the "People's Choice" charter amendments, protecting Sanibel's building height, density, and ground coverage rules from being weakened without voter approval.
COTI led the effort to enshrine the Sanibel Vision Statement in the City Charter — a permanent hierarchy of values for future governmental decisions.
Successfully lobbied for the "Forever Green" charter amendment, requiring voter approval before any environmentally sensitive City land can be sold.
Supported Sanibel's "Dark Skies" outdoor lighting ordinance and later fought to shorten a proposed five-year delay in implementation down to three years.
Supported regional water quality efforts, including the 2017 Senate Bill 10 and subsequent land acquisition for water treatment infrastructure.
Helped pass the City's first post-disaster build-back ordinance, ensuring owners of non-conforming properties can rebuild after a natural disaster.
Active in the Mayor's traffic working group, advocating for seasonal beach parking pricing, causeway tolls, traffic data collection, and limits on new large events.
Supported safety improvements at path intersections and advocated for cycling vehicle width limits to protect residents and visitors.
Opposed unsupervised Segway use, sightseeing tour bus operations, and Low Speed Vehicle (golf cart) rentals on city streets — each a fight to preserve Sanibel's pace and character against added congestion.
Supported the continuation of Lee County's 20/20 land acquisition program and advocated for specific parcels appropriate for environmental preservation.
COTI meets regularly and welcomes Sanibel residents to join — through our committees on land use, the environment, and city government, or simply by staying informed.
Learn About Membership