At its February 24, 2026, meeting, the Sanibel Planning Commission considered an application for a variance to install a boat lift at 661 Anchor Drive that would extend into a man-made canal by more than 33 percent of the canal’s width (the request is for 36 percent). This would result in a navigable channel that is less than the required 20 feet wide.
City staff determined there were no potential impacts to mangroves and that the proposed variance meets the recommended conditions. They therefore recommended approval of the application with several conditions, including that the lift not occupy more than 36 percent of the canal’s width and that reflectors be installed on the outer pilings.
The code specifies that the width of the navigable channel be measured based on the property on the opposite side of the canal that is installing a dock and boat lift at the same waterward extension as the proposed project. The actual navigable channel would be 19-feet-10-inches (less than the required 20 inches) if the same boat lift were added to the existing dock on the opposite side of the canal…