Nelson in for Imperial Landing vote

When the Bonita Springs City Council makes a decision later this month on a controversial redevelopment plan in the historic downtown, all seven members will be able to vote.

Councilman Ben Nelson's status was in dispute until Friday because he owned property near the redevelopment area. He abstained from a vote in January, saying he thought it would be perceived as a conflict of interest.

The Florida Commission on Ethics ruled Friday that Nelson's ownership of that property does not give him any special stake in the redevelopment so he does not have a conflict of interest.

"What it really says is, 'Go ahead and do your job,'" Nelson said. "Our job as council members really boils down to voting."

The council is scheduled to decide June 28 on a proposal from the Antaramian Development Corporation in Naples to morph the 5.3-acre former site of the Bamboo Village mobile home park into the upscale Imperial Landing. The redevelopment calls for restaurants, shops and condominiums.

By a 4-1 vote, the council in January chose Antaramian as the developer of the property, but the March 7 election ushered in three new council members, all of whom have voiced concerns about the company's proposal.

It became clear if Nelson wanted the project to move forward, he would need to vote on it. He and City Attorney Audrey Vance asked the Commission on Ethics for an opinion.

Nelson

"We did the best we could to lay everything out there so nobody could say, 'You didn't tell them this thing,' " Nelson said. "I actually wanted a genuine opinion on it."

The ethics commission staff ruled on May 24 that Nelson could vote on the redevelopment, and the commission affirmed that judgment Friday.

"It has provided some clarification for us in any other similar situations," Vance said.

On May 17, councilmen Pat McCourt, one of the new members, and Alex Grantt, the lone dissenter in the January decision, made a motion to kill the Antaramian plan. Although the two other new members — Richard Ferreira and Martha Simons — said they tentatively planned to vote against the plan as well, they wanted to wait until Nelson got his ethics ruling before they calling for a vote.

The redevelopment of the Bamboo Village site is the main catalyst in the city's plan to revitalize downtown. The government is improving Riverside Park on Old 41, and the city is researching setting up a special taxing district to improve the area's infrastructure. The new Bamboo Village would be an attraction to get more businesses and residents to the area.

In addition to putting his mind at ease, Nelson said, the debate and ruling on his voting status has brought attention to the redevelopment, making people more willing to speak their mind.

"It has been a great experiment," he said. "Every day and in every way, I come across people who want to talk about it."