The City of Sanibel has a year round population of approximately 5,800 people, however during the winter season; it increases to about 20,000+. Sanibel Island is shaped somewhat like a boomerang and is approximately 12 miles long and 5 miles wide at its widest point, which is Dixie Beach Boulevard. Over 65% of Sanibel is “Green Space” with about 50% of the Island being the “Ding Darling” National Wildlife Refuge named after J. Ding Darling an ecologically oriented political cartoonist, who in the 20’s, was ahead of his time in being concerned about the ecology of this country.
The City of Sanibel incorporated in 1974 to protect itself from the massive development schemes which were then being carried out on much of the prime coastal areas of Lee County. After incorporating, the city fathers commissioned a study which led to the development of the Comprehensive Land Use Plan. It is one of the most stringent comprehensive land use plans in the United States and has served as a model for other small communities throughout the country. The plan is continuously being updated and reflects the experience and growth of this island community.
Our Land Use Plan lowered the density of development on the Island dramatically. The overall build out projection is approximately 9,000 dwelling units and includes motel rooms, condominiums and homes. As of December 1994, 7,341 dwelling units existed island wide. In addition, the land use plan assigned every part of Sanibel an ecological zone, which was based primarily on the height above sea level.
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