Editorial: Imperial Landing

Bonita City Council member Ben Nelson had it right the first time on Imperial Landing.

On the advice of City Attorney Audrey Vance, Nelson and then-council member David Piper abstained on the council's vote in January to select Naples-based Antaramian Development Corp. for the upscale commercial-residential plan for the former Bamboo Village site.

Both are landowners in the area, with Piper's Wonder Gardens a major commercial venture across Old 41 Road. Nelson has his residence, a rental home and one commercial building in the district.

After March's election ousted Piper and brought three new faces and the potential for an anti-Imperial Landing majority to the council, Nelson asked the Florida Commission on Ethics if he could vote on it in the future. A contract with Antaramian is due for review this month.

The commission's staff recommended in May that Nelson is conflict-free and the advisory panel concurred Friday, as expected.

Even Naples attorney Mike Carr, a traditionally hard-line member of the commission, says he didn't see a direct conflict.

Yet, the fundamental facts have not changed since January: Nelson is an owner of nearby property whose value will be affected by Imperial Landing being developed — or not. We respect Nelson's service on council and to the community and do not believe he is supporting Imperial Landing to rake in real estate dollars. But the integrity of city zoning and policymaking is at stake, and his effort to vote now is driven by politics.

Regardless of what may be decreed by Florida ethics advisers — especially a board with such an undistinguished record — Ben Nelson can still do the right thing and abstain.

If Imperial Landing is as good as we believe it can be for downtown redevelopment, it can still win council's favor.