The citys Planning and Growth Management Division, a part of the citys DCD, ran the first two workshops. The city contracted with the Iler Planning Group out of West Palm Beach to help run the third session. After the presentation this week, the city may look to expand on information from the visioning sessions and create a document that outlines goals and ways to reach those goals for the benefit of the citys leadership.

“I think the process of doing grass-roots planning from the neighborhood on up is a good thing,” said Kurt Gearing, president of the Everest Homeowners Association and a participant in the workshops. “Cape Coral historically has not had a lot of good planning. They just kind developed as people wanted to build homes.”

“Aesthetics seems to be the key for people in Cape Coral,” said Amy Yearsley with the citys Department of Economic Development DCD.

A proposed three-tower Coconut Grove condo project — decried by some neighbors as an imposing behemoth and tainted by allegations of political payouts — may never get built.

In a stunning blow to The Related Groups 300 Grove Bay Residences project, a three-judge Miami-Dade Circuit Court appellate panel has nullified Miami City Halls approval of the towers.

This is a win for the neighborhoods, plain and simple, said City Commissioner Marc Sarnoff, who represents the Grove and was on the short end of the 3-2 vote approving the project.