property. It was based on riparian rights of Isles’ homeowners who claimed abutting landowners had the right to build docks on adjoining submerged lots. “This will be a representative case for other Isles homeowners who have been denied the right to build docks abutting their property,” said Boca Grande Isles Property Owners Association (BGIPOA) President Don Carroll. Carroll explained out of 122 BGI waterfront lots owners had been allowed at that time to build 50 docks, although Sunset Property owned the submerged lots they were built on. It was believed Sunset Realty wanted access rights to use the private bridge and roads belonging to BGIPOA homeowners to develop Three Sisters. The year before, in 1991, Sunset Realty attempted to use the Isles’ bridge and roads with BGIPOA permission. When Sunset Realty refused to stop using the bridge and roads even when BGIPOA told them to, BGIPOA filed and won an injunction, preventing Sunset Realty to do so. At that time Stephen Schwartz was the owner of Sunset Realty and Drayton Farr was the company’s attorney. Farr was working diligently to make sure no more construction of docks took place on Sunset Realty property. “Clearly the offer made by Sunset Realty bears 38GASPARILLA ISLAND July/August 2017 no resemblance to the economic benefits to Sunset Realty if they were given land access to develop Three Sisters,” said Carroll. May 17, 1991: Al and Joy LeClair, Boca Grande Isles’ homeowners, agreed not to pursue a lawsuit against Lee County over their right to build a dock adjoining their property. They were just two waterfront property owners in the Isles who were angry with the county’s refusal to issue them permits to build docks adjoining their property on submerged lots owned by Sunset Realty. A new county attorney asked the LeClairs to resubmit their permit application again with all the reasons why they thought the county should approve it, and the LeClairs agreed not to pursue the lawsuit but to try the permit again. Homeowners in Boca Grande Isles once again stated they thought there was an “implied understanding” between Sunset Realty and the lot purchasers when they bought the land. July 19, 1991: The quagmire of legal battles continued with more suits and countersuits being filed over dock rights and land access. Sunset Realty filed a lawsuit requesting an injunction preventing BGIPOA from
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