Sanibel officials are considering adding “miniature golf” to the list of businesses allowed in the island’s commercial district.
The discussion was spurred by longtime island business owners Brian and Elke Podlasek, who are planning to rebuild their Island Cow restaurant property at 2163 Periwinkle Way. They proposed building the island’s first mini golf course on the spot along with the new restaurant structure.
The Island Cow was a Sanibel fixture for more than 20 years before a kitchen fire destroyed it in August 2022. A few weeks later, Hurricane Ian scuttled plans for a quick rebuild, leaving an empty lot behind.
At the direction of Sanibel City Council, the seven-member Planning Commission weighed the mini golf proposal on May 26 at City Hall. Island Cow representatives presented their suggestions for a potential update to the building code allowing mini golf as a conditional use in general commercial areas on the island.
Rendering of proposed restaurant.
Courtesy of the Sanibel Planning Commission
They did not propose just any type of mini golf, but those with a low-key Sanibel flavor. That could mean banning gaudy elements often found at mini golf attractions, including “themed” courses, structures such as windmills, foggers and flashing lights.
Island Cow representatives described their course as a family-friendly amenity for residents and visitors with a series of putting holes meandering through a landscaped scene.
“Think of it as ‘Honey, I Shrunk the Golf Course,’” said Benjamin Hofland, a civil engineer with the firm Haley Ward. “It’s a traditional golf course but just shrunk down, not all the bells and whistles.”
The Sanibel Planning Commission meeting on May 26.
Evan Williams
The project would comply with current environmental and other building standards, including parking, limitations on noise and lighting, and buffers between other properties.
The commissioners largely approved of the Island Cow course itself.
“I think it would be a great thing to go do and do in the community,” commissioner Lyman Welch said.
But they raised concerns that an undesirable number of mini golf courses could pop up on the island.
Civil engineer Benjamin Hofland with Haley Ward, Island Cow owners Brian and Elke Podlasek and attorney Raychel Thomas of Pavese Law Firm
Evan Williams
The Island Cow’s course would be about 1.5 acres on the restaurant property. But the proposed conditional use would allow courses up to 5 acres, making mini golf a potential use in 67 out of 69 properties in Sanibel’s General Commercial District, city staff said.
Several commissioners suggested imposing a cap on mini golf courses and limiting their size to a smaller footprint.
Others proposed loosening the no-theme requirement to allow for Sanibel-themed courses with structures that depict the island’s lighthouse or other well-known landmarks.
The Planning Commission directed city staff to work with the Island Cow team to craft an ordinance allowing mini golf as a conditional use in commercial area. They plan to vote on it at a future meeting. The City Council would also need to approve the ordinance for the Island Cow project or others like it to move forward.
“I feel like the Planning Commission seems to like the project and (will) try to fast track it,” Brian Podlasek said. “I think they’re willing to see if they can get this going a little bit quicker.”