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Wednesday, November 4, 2026

Cape Coral approves Costco incentive, fires city manager

Plus, the North 3 utility project is paused and Four Freedoms Park stays off the historic list.

The 5AM Cape Coral team2 stories17 sources5 min read

City HallTop story

Cape Coral council approves a $10 million incentive package for a planned Costco

Most of the $10 million package is a property tax grant

Sources: Cape Coral Breeze, Gulfshore Business

View as table
AmountShare
Property value recapture grant$8M80%
Impact fees$1.8M18%
Utility impact fees$0.2M2%

If you're tired of crossing the Caloosahatchee for Costco, Cape Coral is getting its own. City Council approved a $10 million incentive package Monday for a warehouse at 600 Chiquita Blvd. S., near Pine Island Road. The vote was 7-1, with Keith Long dissenting.

City Manager Michael Ilczyszyn said the site's soil compaction creates a higher-than-usual barrier to entry, so the package includes an of up to $8 million. “If we don’t step in to help bridge that gap, they walk away,” he said. The city announced the store Oct. 27 as Costco's first warehouse in Cape Coral.

  • Payout: over a 25-year performance period
  • Jobs: about 300, per Council member Jennifer Nelson-Lastra
  • Site: about 53 acres, including about 30 acres of retention pond

The planned warehouse would cover 165,000 square feet

Floor area of the planned Costco warehouse, beside places you know

The planned Costco warehouse165,000 sq. ft.Plus a gas station
A football field57,600 sq. ft.end zones included
A Walmart Supercenterabout 180,000 sq. ft.

3 football fields would fit inside the planned Costco warehouse

Sources: Detroit Free Press, Gulfshore Business

View as table
Floor area
The planned Costco warehouse165,000 sq. ft. (Plus a gas station)
A football field57,600 sq. ft. (end zones included)
A Walmart Supercenterabout 180,000 sq. ft.

Economic development officials and brokers describe Costco as a magnet capable of attracting additional investment. Neither the city nor Costco owns the site, and Costco did not respond to messages seeking comment.

Asked

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Asked

Will you shop at the new Cape Coral Costco once it opens?

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City Hall

Cape Coral council fires City Manager Michael Ilczyszyn the night before Election Day

If you missed Monday's meeting, here's the part nobody saw coming. Mayor John Gunter, presiding over his last meeting, moved to end City Manager Michael Ilczyszyn's contract without cause effective 11:59 p.m. that night. It passed 4-1, the day before Election Day.

“Sometimes it’s time for good things to come to an end.”

Mayor John Gunter

Four council members voted to fire the city manager

Cape Coral City Council vote, Nov. 2

4–1

Passed

Terminate City Manager Michael Ilczyszyn's contract without cause

Yes 4

  • GunterMayor
  • Steinke
  • Donnell
  • Kilraine

No 1

  • Lehmann

Absent 3

  • Long
  • Kaduk
  • Nelson-Lastra

Sources: Gulfshore Business, Gulf Coast News and Weather

View as table
MemberSeatVote
John GunterMayorYes
Bill SteinkeYes
Derrick DonnellYes
Joe KilraineYes
Laurie LehmannNo
Keith LongAbsent
Rachel KadukAbsent
Jennifer Nelson-LastraAbsent

Ilczyszyn leaves after more than 20 years with the city. Maureen Buice, an assistant to the city manager since 2021, is now interim city manager. Nelson-Lastra told Gulf Coast News she left for medical reasons, had no idea this was coming and would not have supported it.

The firing by the numbers

4-1
vote to end his contract
4 months
of salary in severance pay
$290,000
a year for interim manager Buice
4 of 8
council seats on Tuesday's ballot

Some residents questioned the timing. “Why wasn't this put on the agenda?” asked resident John Telisky.

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News Notes · More

North 3

Cape Coral has paused the North 3 Utilities Extension Project. Council voted unanimously Monday to rescind earlier resolutions so staff can recalculate costs for residents without certain roadway improvements, and the project now must go back out for bid. Gulfshore BusinessCape Coral Breeze

5,180parcels the North 3 project would serve, approximately

The North 3 Utilities Extension Project would bring city water, sewer and irrigation to those parcels.

Four Freedoms

Council declined to nominate Four Freedoms Park as a historic resource Monday, so the Bimini East agreement, including a $1-a-year lease for the park acreage, continues. Council members Keith Long and Rachel Kaduk voted against the denial. The resolution directs staff to work with the Cape Coral Historical Society on a historical monument for the park. Cape Coral BreezeGulf Coast News and Weather

LeeTran

If you're a veteran, LeeTran's pilot program offers half-price fares with a designated veteran discount card. Pick up a Veterans Discount TropiCard at LeeTran Headquarters, 3401 Metro Parkway, or the Rosa Parks Transportation Station, 2250 Widman Way, both in Fort Myers. WGCU

RSW parking

If you're flying out for Thanksgiving, RSWRemote reserved parking is back for a flat, non-refundable $60 that must be prepaid online, with shuttles between the remote lot and the terminal on specific dates and times. Naples Daily News

Home

Two home kitchen upgrades under $24 while sales last: super-absorbent dish towels that come in an eight-pack and include a hanging loop, and a water-absorbing stone sponge holder that’s minimalist, compact, and keeps counters and sponges dry with natural diatomite stone. Advertising from Amazon.

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Asked

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Asked

How are you getting to your Thanksgiving table this year?

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Today’s puzzles

A new puzzle in each one every morning, played right here.

All 13 games

Quoted

You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club.

— Jack London

Things to Do

Things to Do

Cape Coral, FL

Wednesday, Nov. 4

See every Cape Coral eventFeature your event

Jobs

Jobs

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Around the Block

Around the Block

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Neighbors

Merry Christmas!

“I’m in the hospital, so here’s a Jewelry Christmas tree that I made previously to enjoy! (I will be fine and back to work soon)”

— A neighbor, SW 17th Pl
Photo from the neighbor’s post

134 likes · 49 comments

View post

The Wrap

Some breakfast spots start with one table and grow into a family story. House of Omelets began as a single restaurant on Pine Island Road, and now it's four, with the newest at Bimini Square on Cape Coral Parkway. Owners Toni and Mary Dedaj brought restaurant roots from Canada and Michigan. Brunch plans, sorted.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? HCA's $300 million Cape hospital gets a first look and Costco gets a green light

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Every source in this edition17 links · 10 outlets
  1. The Weather Channelweather.com
  2. Cape Coral Breezecapecoralbreeze.com
  3. Detroit Free Pressfreep.com
  4. The Tennesseantennessean.com
  5. Gulfshore Businessgulfshorebusiness.com
  6. Gulf Coast News and Weathergulfcoastnewsnow.com
  7. Golfweekgolfweek.usatoday.com
  8. Gulfshore Businessgulfshorebusiness.com
  9. Cape Coral Breezecapecoralbreeze.com
  10. Gulf Coast News and Weathergulfcoastnewsnow.com
  11. Gulfshore Businessgulfshorebusiness.com
  12. Cape Coral Breezecapecoralbreeze.com
  13. Cape Coral Breezecapecoralbreeze.com
  14. Gulf Coast News and Weathergulfcoastnewsnow.com
  15. WGCUwgcu.org
  16. Naples Daily Newsnaplesnews.com
  17. Cape Coral events calendar5amcapecoralfl.com

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5AM Cape Coralto me · Wed., Nov. 46:00 a.m.

Cape Coral approves Costco incentive, fires city manager

Plus, the North 3 utility project is paused and Four Freedoms Park stays off the historic list.

The TLDR

  1. Council OKs $10 million in incentives for a Cape Coral Costco
  2. City Manager Michael Ilczyszyn fired in a 4-1 vote
  3. North 3 utility project paused, to go back out for bid
Read this edition

More stories this week

From 5AM Cape Coral’s other editions

All the news
SportsFGCU women's basketball bounces back with an 89-59 win over Arkansas State in its home openerThe Eagles (1-1) bounced back Saturday with an 89-59 win over Arkansas State at Alico Arena. Tuesday's 79-50 loss at Indiana came with just three made threes in 26 tries. Karina Gordon hit five by herself.High School FootballCape Coral High is the No. 8 seed and travels to No. 1 Armwood in the playoffsIf you're following Cape Coral football, the bracket is out. The FHSAA released it Fri., Nov. 6, and Cape Coral enters Class 5A Region 3 as a district champion but the No. 8 seed, so it draws No. 1 Armwood, which is 9-1. In all, 14 Southwest Florida programs made the field.Veterans DayCape Coral's Veterans Day Parade steps off Saturday at 11 a.m. on Cape Coral ParkwayIf you're heading to the parade, it steps off at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 7 and travels west on Cape Coral Parkway from Cape Coral Street to Chester Street. "This is the only parade in Lee County," city Special Events Coordinator Todd King said. More than 20 local veterans and organizations will march, led by grand marshal Gordon "Gordie" Allam, who served from 1958 to 1962.

Around Cape Coral

From Gulf Coast News and Weather, Pembroke Pines News and 2 more newsrooms, gathered by 6AM News, 6AM City’s local news service.

More local news
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    Neil Simon fans have one more day to catch The Star-Spangled Girl at Florida Repertory Theatre. The fast-paced romantic comedy wraps up its run Sunday, Nov. 8, at the Historic Arcade Theatre in downtown Fort Myers.

  2. Pembroke Pines News6 hours ago

    Snakes of SW Florida and Holiday Nights slated; pumpkins for patients, on Pembroke Pines News

    Cape Coral Friends of Wildlife invites you to its general meeting on Tuesday, Nov 10, at Rotary Park, 5505 Rose Garden Road, Cape Coral.

    Also reported byCape Coral Breeze

  3. Pembroke Pines News6 hours ago

    Best SW Florida reader photos include Bonita Springs, Fort Myers, on Pembroke Pines News

    Do you have a picture from paradise you'd like to share with Tropicalia readers? We'd love to print it. Email photos to tropicalia@news-press.com. Be sure to include your full name, where you took the picture and what kind of camera or phone you used. Get snapping!

  4. The News-Press6 hours ago

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