Cape Coral Animal Shelter plans expansions, asks city for help on impact fees and land

The Cape Coral Animal Shelter is planning a much-needed expansion and is asking the city for help with capital expansion fees and the use of a city parcel.

A committee of the whole meeting was held on Wednesday seeking the council's direction on whether to move forward with assisting the organization in its endeavors.

"We are not asking the city to fund our building, we are asking for your help with the capital expansion fees," Cape Coral Animal Shelter President JoAnn Elardo said.

Assistant City Manager Connie Barron said the shelter approached the city a few months ago to inform them of its intention to build a two-story building and expand services. They do not known when they will reach a decision on the request.

"We have a fast-expanding city — it is growing in leaps and bounds and so are the needs of our community," Cape Coral Animal Shelter Executive Director Liz McCauley wrote in an email statement. "Our hope is to have this built within a 2-1/2 year time frame, but that will depend on donors and the city of Cape Coral."

Utility capital expansion fees, or impact fees, are one-time fees for new developments to help expand utilities such as water, sewer, and irrigation.

She said the estimated fees for the new building total nearly $65,000.

Cape Coral Animal Shelter's previous city agreement

An ordinance was approved in 2016 that allowed the nonprofit shelter to build and operate a no-kill animal shelter and adoption facility on a 4.2-acre parcel owned by the city.

The shelter is 325 SW 2nd Ave., adjacent to Lake Kennedy in the city's mid-quadrant below Pine Island Road.

The agreement also established a 99-year lease for $1 annually.

In 2017, the city also approved a resolution to pay for fees associated with constructing an 8,200-square-foot building.

Barron said the fees totaled more than $71,000 and included impact fees.

In August 2020, the shelter added a full-service, affordable veterinary clinic.

Expansion and shelter successes explained

The new two-story building expansion would be on the existing 4.2-acre site and cost $8 million.

It will be 19,797 square feet: 16,789 square feet on the first floor and 3,008 square feet on the second floor.

The new building will house all shelter operations: kennels, cat rooms, adoption area, offices, laundry, storage, and multi-purpose room for events, training, and classes.

The current building will be reconfigured to expand the clinic, and the current kennels will become dog intake/quarantine.

Forty-eight parking spaces will be added to the site totaling 93 parking spaces.

The shelter is also asking the city to use an adjacent city-owned parcel containing 14,767 square feet, 0.339 acres, increasing its footprint to 4.53 acres. This added space will be used for training and playing purposes for the animals.

Elardo, the shelter founder and president, said they have adopted and saved more than 4,500 dogs and cats in the community, 68% from Cape Coral.

She said the clinic helps more than 6,625 clients, 80% of whom are Cape Coral residents.

"Our clinic helps our seniors and community who are on a fixed income be able to afford care for their pet," Elardo said.

Elardo said the work the shelter does extends beyond daily activities at the shelter.

"The Cape Coral shelter has been an integral part of the city in any disaster and need," Elardo said.

She said during Hurricane Ian, the shelter gave away pet carriers for free by having hundreds on standby for natural disasters.

"Since our inception, we have donated tens of thousands of dollars in food and care right here in Cape Coral," Elardo said.

She said the shelter cost nearly $2 million a year to run the shelter.

Cape Council's response

Many on the Cape Coral Council expressed great gratitude and support for the shelter and its planned expansion.

Council member Richard Carr who said he recognized the significant impact the shelter work has, asked staff if it would be beneficial to give the rest of the parcel to the organization

"I think it might be beneficial for the area for dog walking," Carr said. "We are almost chopping a piece out of something that's unusable somewhere else."

Elardo said the additional space can be used for training police dogs.

City Manager Michael Ilczyszyn said the rest of the parcel will be used as a walkway to divide the parking lots and other city facilities in the area.

Councilmembers Bill Steinke, Dan Sheppard, Robert Welsh, and Keith Long also expressed support for the shelter and its efforts.

However, Mayor John Gunter, who supports the shelter, expressed concerns about helping a non-profit with monetary contributions as it could be a "slippery slope."

“We used to have a program many years ago where we gave monies to nonprofits and that policy was disbanded and we no longer do that,” Gunter said. "My fear that I have is if we open this door, that slippery slope, those other 769 nonprofit organizations could come forward and ask for the same type of contribution."

He asked the council members if they would be willing to go down this path with other organizations.

Councilmember Jessica Cosden said the city did the construction-related fees in 2017 and hasn’t had other requests.

"I hear what you are saying mayor, but I think this is a very unique case and it doesn’t fit in with the rest of the nonprofits,” she said.

Councilmember Tom Hayden said he had the same concerns as the mayor but recognizes the value the shelter brings.

"I will support this," Hayden said.

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Cape Coral Animal Shelter is planning to expand, here's what we know