Cape Coral City Council chose a coastal vernacular, Key West design for the future Cape Coral Yacht Club at a Committee of the Whole meeting March 13. 

The first design, which was chosen in a 5-3 vote, was described as “a very accommodating, welcoming feel” by John Bryant with Sweet Sparkman Architecture and Interiors. “It’s kind of a coastal vernacular feel, but different than the existing yacht club building,” he said. 

Council members Jessica Cosden, Bill Steinke and Rob Welsh voted for the second design, which was similar to the first but incorporated more aspects of the original yacht club building. This option was described as having more of a stone base, mid-century feel with exposed, heavy timber.  

“This is an exciting option,” Bryant said. “There’s a lot of design material to work with. They are different buildings. The existing Yacht Club, it’s about a 10,000-square-foot building. We’re now looking at more of a 40,000- to 50,000-square-foot building.” 

The third design option was more contemporary and not even considered by Council.  

Aside from the design of the building, the site plan also was slightly modified. James Pankonin with Kimley-Horn and Associates discussed the modifications made, including combining the beach and pool restrooms into one building and moving a pump equipment building to another location on-site. 

City Manager Michael Ilczyszyn said there is no price estimate for the project at this time. “We haven’t discussed that at this point,” he said. “It’ll really come into how much of certain materials are needed and construction methods.” 

The price of the project is expected to have a rough estimate when engineering design reaches roughly 30% completion.  

There will be two upcoming public meetings about the future yacht club scheduled April 2 and May 7. 

Pankonin and Bryant will then return to Council for the May 13 Committee of the Whole meeting to summarize the public input received.