Copyright © FORT MYERS - Beach Observer and Beach Bulletin | Contact | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy a proposed 263-room hotel and commercial center at the Moss marina site on Fort Myers Beach will have its first hearing in front of the Town of Fort Myers Beach Council on Monday The hearing will be the first of two public hearings required for the project which requires deviations from the town’s Land Development Code for its height of 81 feet a Comprehensive Plan amendment and a Commercial Planned Development rezoning The project requires a zoning change in order for a hotel to be built on the property which is surrounded by residential properties in the residential/conservation zone of the town The Town of Fort Myers Beach Local Planning Agency (LPA) voted unanimously to recommend approval of the plans last month The project requires eight deviations from the town’s local development code and has received pushback from neighbors who have complained that the balconies from the building will hover over their backyards in the middle of a residential neighborhood where single-family homes and vacation rentals line up the street behind Moss Marina Moss Marina is located downtown in the middle of the busy Old San Carlos Boulevard business district and Third Street – a residential neighborhood where many of the homes are either listed as vacation rentals or are up for sale but also include several residences of year-round residents The Fort Myers Beach Local Planning Agency did recommend more buffers between Moss Marina and the residential properties in its conditional approval The Town of Fort Myers Beach Council must still hold two public hearings on the development with the first hearing scheduled for Monday The developers had previously proposed three hotel buildings with 400 rooms at the site before pulling back their plans last year The new plans call for the tallest building to reach seven stories and will include other commercial uses which could include a bar told the Local Planning Agency that he would be presenting new plants that would include more plantings for a buffer a neighbor of the proposed development who said he lives about two dozen feet from Moss Marina Mosteiro said storm drainage is a major problem in the area and expressed concerns about flooding issues Mosteiro said the buildings would tower over his home Mosteiro said the project would “drastically change our neighborhood.” Mosteiro said the project’s buildings were even taller than originally proposed and wasn’t responsible for a neighborhood with limited access “and little thoughtfulness to the neighbors.” Mosteiro said the new plans don’t address concerns residents had raised previously in the original plans about the size of the buildings access and concerns about “balconies facing our homes.” Mosteiro said an application by Moss Marina in the 1980’s to expand was denied by Lee County due to a lack of access “The roads have not gotten any bigger,” Mosteiro said “There is no good access for this size development today What they are calling a linear park is laughable It is a required buffer which is going to become a pedestrian highway in our backyards enclosed boat shed 25 feet from my house is going to be balconies and gathering places.” Mosteiro said the buffer should be at least 25 feet with a park with larger green space another neighbor in close proximity to Moss Marina expects a large increase in vehicular traffic which she said would interfere with the local Atwood complained of a lack of a buffer in the Arches Bayfront plans between her property and the site of the project Atwood also expressed concern about a proposed bar on site which she said would turn into an ongoing party near her home and people are vacationing there is a loud party,” she said Now it will be people looking back at us at our homes.” Atwood said the plans of Arches Bayfront has “balconies looking down on our homes.” The Fort Myers Beach Woman’s Club is hosting a Pub Crawl down old San Carlos on Thursday, May 29th. Check in is at 5PM at Bayside Park. Participants will crawl from Snug Harbor to Wahoo Willie’s to S.O.B. You were trumped by a lot of others for the news and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" There is a bridge being built on the south end of Fort Myers Beach that has provided some jaw-dropping views and perspectives based on where you are looking at it One of the best views of the "work in progress" is from the existing bridge whether you are walking we are bringing you a birds-eye view of the massive construction project This view shows you the scope of the project including how much bigger it is going to be than the existing bridge Watch the video at the top of this page and enjoy the amazing view The background: The Big Carlos Pass Bridge connects the south end of Fort Myers Beach to Lover’s Key on Estero Boulevard A new fixed span bridge with a 60-foot navigation clearance over Big Carlos Pass with a lifespan of 75 years.Pedestrian/bicycle-friendly features.The construction contract also includes creation of an offshore artificial reef using the old bridge.The new bridge is being constructed on the Gulf side of the existing bridge Motorists have continued to have access to the old bridge throughout construction.The project initially included the potential of constructing a new fishing pier under the new bridge National Marine Fisheries (NMFS) would not approve the installation of any new fishing piers and FDOT dropped its support of the county’s request to include the pier The old bridge is being demolished and hauled into the Gulf as artificial reef material the new bridge will include one travel lane in each direction a 6-foot-wide sidewalk along the north side of Estero Boulevard and a 10-foot shared use path along the south side of Estero Boulevard The project also includes relocation of existing infrastructure for Lee County Utilities and Bonita Springs Utilities Construction cost: Lee County has a $90.8 million construction contract with Superior Construction Co Project website: Here had its first service inside the church  since  September 2022 It was a total surprise to the congregation who had been worshipping under the big white tent and was expecting to do it again on Sunday Jason Kurtz announced to the attendees that this would be the day they went back into the building for worship Pastor Tom Frey led the congregation up the ramp and into the building while they waved palm fronds and listened to the music coming from inside the building being played by organist Arlene Burm There wasn’t a dry eye in the crowd as everyone took their seats in the rebuilt building both buildings sustained extensive damage resulting in the lower building The main sanctuary/office building was spared any structural damage roofing blown off and doors and windows damaged There was also extensive water damage to much of the interior Chapel by the Sea and Beach Baptist Church were also devastated by the storm Both of those church buildings were eventually demolished The Catholic Church was also heavily damaged There will be services on Maundy Thursday at 9:00 am Good Friday at 6:00 pm and Easter Sunday at 9:00 am There will be a formal rededication service in the fall threatened sea turtle mothers return to Fort Myers Beach out of natural maternal instinct to crawl onto the beach in the dead of night and dig out nests to lay their eggs Eggs they will never see hatch and hatchlings they will never see grow It’s a routine the threatened species has been doing for tens of millions of years the loggerhead sea turtle nesting season officially begins Thursday unshielded non-amber lights are prohibited from 9 p.m The town’s turtle lighting ordinance also requires drapes and curtains to be closed over windows during that time Lights should also be moved as far away from windows as possible While the season doesn’t officially get underway until Thursday nearby Bonita Beach has already seen its first loggerhead sea turtle nest Turtle Time volunteers have been out scoping Fort Myers Beach for turtle nests since April 15 Turtle Time founder Eve Haverfield and her organization are responsible for a resurgence of loggerhead nesting activity on the island When her organization was first formed in 1989 to protect the threatened sea turtles nests were far fewer and hatchlings often ended dead in the road due to light disorientations light disorientations are still a problem and Haverfield is hopeful the word will get out better this year for lights to be turned off from 9 p.m have even taken the steps of installing turtle-friendly tinted windows and turtle lighting to protect against disorientations Haverfield has an additional concern this year dealing with the town’s beach renourishment sand dredging pipe project which was supposed to be completed before seat turtle nesting season so as not to interfere with sea turtles that are protected under the Endangered Species Act Haverfield is concerned how the piping and tractor activity will impact the sea turtle nesting habits They could potentially lead the turtles to turning away from the beach and heading back to the Gulf Haverfield said the piping won’t be an issue where it is underground on the northern end of the island and south of Lanark Avenue but will be an issue between the Junkanoo property and Lanark where it is over the beach Haverfield said she and her teams will have to move nests that are in the construction zone “We’re going to do the best we can for the turtles,” she said The relocation work has to be done extremely delicately so as not to harm the embryo Is it difficult and time-consuming work for Haverfield and her Turtle Time team of volunteers “It’s hard work relocating a nest and it has to be done scientifically properly and meticulously,” Haverfield said “The problem that we see now is there is no dune A lot of people don’t want dune vegetation,” Haverfield said “The dune vegetation stabilizes the beach and keeps the sand from blowing out.” Haverfield said dunes are good for both sea turtles and residents of the beach in protecting against future hurricanes “The dune vegetation traps sand and stabilizes sand,” Haverfield said the sand becomes flatter and less hospitable to nesting sea turtles as well as making the beach more vulnerable to flooding The contractors Ahtna Marine Construction Company who have been doing the sand dredging and beach renourishment for the town were required by the town to complete the project in January as part of their contract but were given an extension due to Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton That extension was then extended again into shorebird nesting season which began Feb 15 and then further into March and then April and now into sea turtle nesting season The contractors were recently given approval by the town and Florida Department of Environmental Protection to extend their project to May 31 Fort Myers Beach Environmental Projects Manager Chadd Chustz said another extension might be needed past that date as well Chustz has been distributing sea turtles and lighting pamphlets from the Sea Turtle Conservancy to educate residents and the public about the sea turtle nesting season and the detrimental impacts that lights can have on their nesting habits and the deadly disorientations that can occur for hatchlings Haverfield said that there were six bad disorientations of sea turtle hatchlings this past year including several deadly disorientations of turtle hatchlings where dead hatchlings were found in the road on Estero Boulevard near Connecticut St and south of the Sterling Avenue intersection “We scraped them off the road,” Haverfield said Haverfield said the hatchlings were attracted to light on the other side of Estero Boulevard Haverfield said most of the problem was situated on the southern end of the island where drapes weren’t closed or outdoor lights weren’t shielded Part of Haverfield’s work involves notifying the town of the turtle hatchling disorientations as well as the state Much needs to be done to inform the residents and guests on Fort Myers Beach,” Haverfield said Haverfield stressed that amber LED lights that are shielded are the best way for residents to have outdoor lighting that won’t interfere with nesting sea turtles and hatchlings It was a tough year for threatened sea turtles on Fort Myers Beach last year where nests of loggerheads experienced significant hardships from three hurricanes and other heavy rainfall events in 2024 While 109 loggerhead sea turtle nests were identified The majority of the loggerhead sea turtle nests were washed out and the embryos drowned only one or two of the hatchlings made it out Only 21% of the eggs in the 109 nests survived on Fort Myers Beach Haverfield said half of the nests on Fort Myers Beach were washed out during a rain event in June Some of the loggerhead sea turtles re-nested after June but some of those nests were wiped out by Hurricane Debby in July and then Hurricane Helene in September The number of total nests on Fort Myers beach were the same as 2022 giving some optimism to Haverfield that the sea turtle population that nests on Fort Myers Beach each year is still healthy Loggerheads lay nests on average every other year and are a threatened species protected under the Endangered Species Act The town’s enforcement of lighting violations was much more lax last year than in years past Only a handful of lighting violations were issued last year The town’s enforcement of its turtle lighting ordinance last year differed vastly from 2022 when the town issued 220 warnings for lighting violations the town issued 44 citations with a total of $19,050 in fines Chustz said the town’s staff prefers to notify property owners of lighting violations first by phone or email by educating them before administrative citations are issued While a nesting sea turtle can lay dozens of eggs it is possible that of all the hundreds of eggs laid on Fort Myers Beach this year only a handful of the hatchlings will make it to adulthood due to the threats they face in the water Turtle Time has dozens of volunteers on Fort Myers Beach who check the beach each morning at dawn to see if any turtle nests have been dug and then tapes them off “There are many people on Fort Myers Beach who are turtle friendly and we count on them to keep the turtles safe by closing their drapes,” Haverfield said especially plastic bags that turtles mistake for jellyfish Fill in holes and flatten sandcastles after your beach visit Keep a respectful distance from nesting turtles or hatchlings–never touch or disturb them Do not interact with or shine lights on turtle nests Avoid flashlights or phone lights on the beach at night Residents and businesses: Use sea turtle-friendly lighting Install protective window treatments to block indoor light from reaching the beach Call FWC Wildlife Alert Hotline at (888) 404-3922 to report injured turtles Educate others–awareness is key to conservation if you have accidentally hooked a sea turtle that is small enough to rescue contact: Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission at 1-888-404-FWCC Fort Myers Beach Observer Editor Nathan Mayberg can be reached at NMayberg@breezenewspapers.com The fight over Fort Myers Beach Councilmember Karen Woodson’s attempt to remove Fort Myers Beach Local Planning Agency Chair Anita Cereceda over her donation to Protect FMB had seemed over after a previous town council meeting but at the last town council meeting Woodson continued to make her case that town councilmembers had the right to remove any advisory committee member Town counsel Nancy Stuparich continued to push back against the assertion made by Woodson Woodson cited letters from attorneys she said supported her interpretation of the council’s powers “Why are there differences of opinions here that council has the right to remove anyone for any reason period,” Woodson said said while the town code may give the town council the right to remove advisory committee members – it can’t be for reasons that infringe on their constitutional rights “When you take that and apply it to an individual and you are arguably curtailing their constitutional rights than that is a different analysis and that is where I think it becomes problematic,” Stuparich said “I don’t think it is a constitutional right if you just don’t believe in someone anymore,” Woodson said Stuparich noted that councilmembers had already made Cereceda’s donation the issue “But the reason that has been said publicly numerous times that the concern is the freedom of speech as far as views on a particular project and the association with a particular entity,” Stuparich said “You would have to make a finding that participating and associating with a particular group is malfeasance The concern is you are curtailing constitutional rights.” Stuparich said Woodson’s attempts to remove Cereceda would “raise some potential legal concerns It’s my job just to advise you that there is a legal risk should you proceed in that fashion.” Woodson asked if the town council could instead outline the duties of the Local Planning Agency (LPA) and audit committee members and “put parameters around those things in the future.” Stuparich said “you are basically asking individuals who want to serve on these committees to give up some of their constitutional rights in exchange for service on this committee If I want to be appointed to one of your committees I can no longer associate with certain groups that I have served with for years Your qualifications for serving on these committees Fort Myers Beach Mayor Dan Allers said “For what it’s worth I would certainly never support something that would ask someone to give up a constitutional right.” Woodson said she believed there was an “ethical question.” Allers said “you can ask 10 lawyers for an opinion on something and you are going to get 10 different opinions.” Allers said he believes Stuparich “has given us the answers we need or don’t need I don’t think this needs to go forward any further.” Woodson said “I was just asking questions because I wasn’t understanding.” that constitutional right revolved around a donation Cereceda made to Protect FMB a group which filed a lawsuit over the town council’s decision to approve the Seagate Development Group’s 17-story condo project Cereceda had voted to deny the project at an LPA hearing before the town council ultimately approved the measure the town’s first mayor after the town voted to incorporate in 1995 and who served multiple terms as mayor – most recently in 2020 said emphatically at the last meeting of the town’s Local Planning Agency that she would not resign her seat Woodson had attended that meeting to criticize Cereceda’s actions in donating to Protect FMB The LPA only acts as an advisory for most major land development decisions with the town council needing to approve major development plans and any deviations from town code Seagate Development Group was given a deviation from the town code that limits the height of new buildings to three stories for that side of Estero Blvd The town has historically found it difficult to fill all of its advisory committee positions and regularly has openings for seats on its volunteer boards Woodson had originally been joined by Councilmember Scott Safford in questioning Cereceda’s ability to lead the LPA Safford had questioned if applicants to the LPA could “get a fair shake” in light of the donation Safford said he was concerned in particular with the Arches Bayfront hotel proposal at Moss Marina that was in front of the LPA Safford did not comment on Woodson’s recent statements during the last town council meeting The council will be reviewing the Arches Bayfront hotel project on Monday who spent her career working in corporate human resources has joined town councilmembers in twice voting to vanquish members of the town’s Marine and Environmental Resources Task Force (MERTF) from their seats after they had sought to reapply for their seats when their terms were up Since being elected to the town council in 2022 Woodson has voted to replace three members of MERTF replacing one seat with the appointment last year of Eddie Rood to the board appeared in front of the town council at the last council meeting to state his support for Woodson’s efforts to have Cereceda removed Woodson made her comments toward the end of the meeting and cited Rood’s comments in her questioning of the town counsel Rood noted that he himself had sued the town multiple times over his quest to build a boardwalk behind his property over a lagoon that is part of the Little Estero Island Critical Wildlife Area Cereceda had voted against allowing a special exception permit for Rood’s boardwalk when she was mayor The Fort Myers Beach Art Association will celebrate their new home two and a half years after Hurricane Ian knocked down their home when they open their “Spring Fling” art show this week at their new gallery in Cypress Square runs through May 30 at the Fort Myers shopping plaza at 13451 McGregor Boulevard The gallery will be open Thursdays through Saturdays from noon to 6 p.m A soft opening ceremony will be held May 1 from 4-6 p.m Refreshments will be available at the reception The gallery is in Cypress Square shopping center across from Prawnbroker Restaurant & Fish Market The art association had plans drawn up for a $3 million building on its Fort Myers Beach property at Donora and Shell Mound Boulevard but its board recently voted to pause that plan unless its finances improve said art association member Susi Wingenroth The association recently announced they signed a lease to rent out space at 13451 McGregor Blvd at Cypress Square in Fort Myers The new gallery is next to Prawnbroker Restaurant & Fish Market Fort Myers Beach Art Association President Star Sherwood said the organization had worked hard on plans to rebuild with architectural plans drawn up along with meetings with builders and fundraising The association still has hopes to one day rebuild a gallery on Fort Myers Beach Sherwood said that while the association was “eternally grateful to all of the galleries and churches that have allowed us to use their facilities to hold our art shows we feel it is time to find our own space where we can focus on keeping our members together while we continue to be a vital part of the art community.” Sherwood said the decision to rent out space “has not been an easy one but after the Board of Directors and the majority of our members have all endorsed this option The association’s main focus was “to find an affordable prime location that would be convenient for our members and our customers as well,” Sherwood said “We looked for space on Fort Myers Beach and the surrounding area there is not much available and we were concerned about the possibility of flooding during hurricane season Our focus was to find a space that offers a high-traffic reputable area that can enhance our visibility and increase our customer base.” The association lost some members who relied on selling their artwork “Our goal is to get back to our beloved Fort Myers Beach,” she said. Exhibits will change monthly throughout the year as well as popup activities will be added to the schedule A more elaborate celebration for the new gallery and the association’s 75th anniversary will be held in October The group was started on Fort Myers Beach by artists who were drawn to Southwest Florida’s landscape “We did not want to leave Fort Myers Beach but it was difficult to find an affordable space there that wouldn’t get flooded,” Sherwood said The new gallery is also a working studio where visitors can see members painting in watercolors the art association will add weekly watercolor classes and short workshops Free art demonstrations and monthly speakers are also planned More events will be held at night and on weekends For more information on the Fort Myers Beach Art Association To donate to the association’s efforts to rebuild visit https://fortmyersbeachart.com/donations/ Donations to support the art association can be made on its website at (616) 291-7827 or starlinksherwood@gmail.com The Fort Myers Beach Local Planning Agency voted unanimously 7-0 on Tuesday to recommend denial of Terry Persaud’s proposed hotel at Times Square The Local Planning Agency found that the five deviations from the Land Development Code that were sought were inconsistent with the town’s comprehensive plan The board swiftly voted to reject the plans after members of the board expressed a number of reservations about the project including its height and level of intensity at the town’s main tourist destination The hotel plans required deviations from the town code including for height the project has faced concerns from the public about its impact on view from the Matanzas Pass Bridge Fort Myers Beach Local Planning Agency (Chair Anita Cereceda said the height Cereceda said she would be willing to consider hotel plans that were smaller at three stories potentially Cereceda also expressed further reservations about the location of the hotel and whether there would be a safety hazard with the additional parking that would be needed The roughly half-acre beachfront parcel sits on the southern edge of Time Square facing Estero Boulevard and Crescent Beach Family Park The vote by the Local Planning Agency (LPA) is only a recommendation to the town council The town council could potentially still approve the project when it goes before the body later this month If Persaud takes his plans to the town council for approval it would require two public hearings before it could be approved The LPA had offered Persaud a continuance to change his plans and return back for another meeting but he rejected the offer LPA members expressed reservations about giving approvals for what they considered to be the largest deviations from the town code in terms of intensity though Persaud and his legal representative compared the project to other developments that had previously been approved by the town such as the Myerside hotel and Margaritaville Margaritaville developer Tom Torgerson appeared at the meeting to speak out against the project and said the hotel plans of Persaud were more than double the intensity that his project was approved for LPA member John McLean said the intensity deviation requested by Persaud for the half-acre lot would be “far beyond anything we have approved since I have been on the LPA.” LPA member Jane Plummer saw a bad precedent being set if Persaud’s plans were approved “If we start here with four stories and a 2.5 floor area ratio everybody is going to want the same,” Plummer said “You won’t see anything except this massive (hotel) when you come over (the bridge),” Plummer said This is a breaking news story and will be updated — The owners of the vacant lots next to the Fort Myers Beach Pier are moving forward with plans for a new resort development called Time Square Resort which would bring 50 hotel rooms to the area still recovering from Hurricane Ian Watch as Community Correspondent Anvar Ruziev continues to bring you the latest updates about the Fort Myers Beach Development: The proposed resort is phase one of a two-part rebuild by Terry Persaud planned for the lot currently used for parking and vendors in Times Square The four-story development would include a rooftop sunset terrace open to the public "The hotel component is just to make that building feasible again," Persaud said "We need a customer base in Times Square because all the hotels being built right now are having their own restaurants within them," Persaud said developers are requesting six deviations from town regulations including a height exception that would allow the resort to reach just under 70 feet and building setbacks—all described as necessary for construction in a flood zone the developer is offering a 10-foot public walkway connecting the beach to Times Square Some visitors to the area expressed support for the development "I honestly think it would be a really great addition but they're not here to look go up top and look out at the view food and gift shops," said Kathi Ritland who was visiting Fort Myers Beach with her family Phase two of the rebuild will happen on the adjacent lot next to the pier The developer hasn't decided if that section will include more hotel rooms but expects resort construction to start by October and finish in early 2027 "We need business back here!" Kathi Ritland added After the town's Local Planning Agency gives their recommendation the project will move to the Town Council for final approval See the Full Development Agreement with renderings below: PREVIOUS COVERAGE:Times Square property on Fort Myers Beach reveals plans for new hotel, restaurant and shops Keeping the vibe and culture: New plans for Times Square on Fort Myers Beach AFTER IAN: What's up with Fort Myers Beach Dairy Queen lot sold for $6.4 million This story was reported by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy While Junkanoo and Fresh Catch Bistro couldn’t be saved after Hurricane Ian owner Terry Persaud is shifting his eyes to his plans for a hotel on land he owns at Times Square where the Sunset Beach Tropical Grill formerly stood Persaud is scheduled to present his plans for a boutique hotel to the Fort Myers Beach Local Planning Agency (LPA) at their April 29 meeting Persaud demolished the Fresh Catch Bistro building at 3400 Estero Boulevard at the site where the Junkanoo and formerly the historic Pelican Hotel once stood The Junkanoo and Fresh Catch Bistro buildings were both destroyed by Hurricane Ian Only a portion of Fresh Catch Bistro building was still standing until last week “It’s a great loss to the town,” Persaud said was sold to Persaud Properties FL Investments in October of 2014 for $8 million The land had previously been the subject of plans for residential development by Persaud Persaud said he had been close a couple times to selling the land after Hurricane Ian and has been in touch with a couple of developers regarding the parcel “It has a range of possibilities,” Persaud said Persaud said the property is zoned for both commercial and residential He had previously floated plans to build multi-million dollar homes on the property and had built two homes next to Junkanoo According to the Estero Island Historic Society That would have made it one of the oldest commercial buildings standing on Fort Myers Beach at the time of Hurricane Ian Fresh Catch Bistro and Junkanoo operator Franco Russo relocated the businesses to Snook Bright Marina Persaud said the cost to rebuild at the site wouldn’t have made it worth it for him to continue operating there considering the investment he already had in purchasing the land “We hope that whoever will be able to build in there will consider building back a restaurant,” he said Persaud wants to build a “boutique hotel” with about 50 rooms where the Sunset Beach Tropical Grill once stood before Hurricane Ian knocked it down According to renderings submitted to the town the hotel will have a maximum height of 69 feet the height is considered to be 52 feet above the flood elevation The town code allows for 30 feet above flood elevation so Persaud is seeking an additional 22 feet based on those calculations There would be a restaurant and bar on the bottom floor that would be similar to the Sunset Beach Tropical Grill Persaud said he believes the new hurricane codes justify a taller building at the site Persaud envisions having some smaller retail vendors in front of the building “We have that unique niche of small vendors to create that beach vibe,” Persaud said like every other beachfront property at Times Square was leveled to the ground by Hurricane Ian “We lost everything there.” Persaud said he was denied his claim on his wind insurance policy and said the building had no flood insurance He paid $3.15 million for the lot back in 2014 “We spent quite a bit to rehab it,” Persaud said “It was one of the nicest spots in Times Square to go to.” Persaud was in a long protracted legal battle with the town over code violations the property was cited for He earned a victory in court after challenging the amount of fines a former town magistrate had charged him as exhorbitant “We were starting to hit our stride and then Ian took us out,” he said Persaud said he is looking to “find something that works” and to make a return on his investment “We hope to be one of the first on Times Square to get rebuilt.” He believes he can complete construction on the hotel within 12-14 months once he gains approvals from the LPA and town council It wasn’t that long ago after Hurricane Ian that owners of property at Times Square were working together on new designs to redevelop Times Square and help replace the structures and businesses that were lost While the businessowners were working on their plans they were surprised to learn last year that the town had also been separately working on such plans Then two of the owners of properties at Times Square died which threw off the momentum of the project Persaud said that property owners at Times Square are now working individually on rebuilding plans but also together to help each other out on understanding codes and other issues with rebuilding after the town’s top tourist draw was decimated by Hurricane Ian There has been little public discussion since last year regarding plans the town had been working on for Times Square Persuad also owns the property that was occupied by the PierSide Grill and Famous Blowfish Bar The Pier Peddler and Dairy Queen right next to where the Fort Myers Beach Pier has laid in ruins for two and a half years He bought the prime beachfront land for $6.4 million last year is not expected to be rebuilt until 2027 and restrooms nearby at Lynn Hall Memorial Park are not expected to be rebuilt until 2028 That hasn’t helped speed up Persaud’s timeline for rebuilding there There is one parcel between the PierSide Grill and Famous Blowfish Bar property and the former Sunset Beach Tropical Grill property Persaud believes the recent approval of the plans for Arches Bayfront at Moss Marina by the LPA will help boost the likelihood his development will also be approved The Arches Bayfront project is much larger and about as big in some respects as Margaritaville The hotel will need additional deviations from the land development code for parking and for added density “It’s up to the town to see what appetite they have for redeveloping the town and getting small businesses back on our feet,” Persaud said “The need exists for (the hotel) at Times Square.” Fort Myers Beach Mayor Dan Allers did not respond to a message seeking comment on the plans When it comes to removing hurricane debris from the Fort Myers Beach canals there's the expected items and then there's the unexpected items Three hurricanes that hit the Southwest Florida coast in recent years left an inordinate amount of debris in the canals The expected debris that was left behind by hurricanes Ian, Helene and Milton includes things like bicycles Ian was historic and pushed 15 feet of storm surge onto Fort Myers Beach on September 28 Helene and Milton hit the Southwest Florida coast in 2024 and were only separated by 13 days Since the FEMA funded canal-cleaning project started in January nothing can top the massive shipping container that was recently discovered under water A shipping container like the one submerged in the canal it was found in typically weighs (empty) 10,500 pounds. But this one which was filled with mud and electrical cables More: Cleaning hurricane debris from Fort Myers Beach canals: The good, the bad and the ugly Having spent the last four months overseeing the removal of hurricane debris from Fort Myers Beach canals Harbormaster Curtis Ludwig told us how they did it − how did they get that thing up and out of the water Question: About that shipping container – can you walk us through how that was brought to the surface Answer: The container was floated (to the surface) by air bags How many air bags did you need to get the job done Each air bag is rated between 8,000-10,000 pounds of lift the shipping container is floated to the surface lines were rigged to tow the vessel from Pink Shell The shipping container was towed under the (Matanzas Pass) bridge to the Lee County boat ramp on San Carlos Island it was pulled out of the water by a track hoe/excavator It was then dismantled and disposed of in the proper manner Fla — A wall of sand and water suddenly burst into the air when a dredge pipe broke - right in the middle of Easter weekend crowds on Fort Myers Beach In video captured the moment after the pipe burst just north of the Fort Myers Beach pier around Saturday you could see water and sand sprayed 20 feet into the air Paula Gray sent Fox 4 the video - she said she was just feet away when it happened "The whole thing just burst out of the blue These women were just sitting in their chairs and the chairs are flying and they’re running," she said It was the second time this same pipe had broken in just over a week Crews were busy fixing it while beachgoers gathered to watch Fox 4 reached out to the Town of Fort Myers Beach to ask if anyone was hurt and when repairs would be completed but did not hear back Volunteers are needed for a water quality study in which samples will be taken this Sunday The Mound House will be distributing collection bottles this Sunday from 7 p.m to residents throughout the town to take samples from various locations on the island as part of a multi-year study of the town’s water quality and Mound House is in need of volunteers to check sites along Estero Bay and on the beachfront of the Gulf Register ahead of time online at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0B4DABAB22A6FBC34-55780486-whats#/ pick up collection bottles and instructions at the Mound House at 7 p.m The collection bottles should be used to collect water two feet below depth and labeled with the name of the person doing the sampling The collection bottles should then be returned back to the Mound House outside the kayak shed before 8:30 p.m contact Bonita Water Steward Nicole Weigold at the Florida Gulf Coast University Vester Field Station at 239-826-0093 As beachgoers were enjoying another day in paradise at Lynn Hall Memorial Park this past Thursday during spring break week on Fort Myers Beach the serene atmosphere was abruptly upended when a sand dredge pipe burst open in the middle of the beach opening a large hole with quicksand and gushing water the town announced that its beach renourishment project will be further delayed to May 31 as it works to pump sand to the southern section of the island The town’s efforts have been concentrated lately around Leonardo Arms which has been in need of  renourishment around its depleted shoreline for years The new delays means that the town’s beleaguered beach renourishment project which was supposed to have been completed in January will now extend into sea turtle nesting season The state’s sea turtle nesting season for Fort Myers Beach begins May 1 and could cause complications for threatened sea turtles who will now have to navigate around large sand dredging pipes that are stretched along approximately four miles of the beach and pose safety risks to the turtles The town’s sand renourishment and sand dredging project has already interfered with the first two months of the shorebird nesting season for Southwest Florida The town has four threatened shorebirds that nest on the island the town’s sand haul project also interfered with shorebird nesting season The town has received waivers from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to continue its project through the shorebird nesting season Officials with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) did not respond to questions about the latest delays and extension of the town’s project into sea turtle nesting season Town of Fort Myers Beach Environmental Projects Manager Chadd Chustz said the DEP just issued an extension and modification to the town’s beach renourishment permit Contractors from Ahtna Marine and Construction Company worked this past Thursday to fix the water leak at Lynn Hall Memorial Park after a sand dredging pipe split early in the afternoon causing water to shoot up from underneath the sand in a large swath of the town’s busiest section of beach at Lynn Hall Memorial Park Mike Case was on the beach with his family when the incident occurred “All the sudden it made a big hole,” Case said “It started saucing up and down,” Case said He advised people around the developing hole to get out of the way I told those people you need to clear out.” picking up their belongings to get out of the way and commenting on the smell “It looks like a volcano fixing to blow,” Case said while watching a sinkhole emerge in the middle of the beach after the pipe burst and quicksand quickly opened up in the hole as water gushed Chustz urged the public on Thursday to avoid the area until the repair was completed You want to avoid that area while equipment is on the way to repair the pipe,” Chustz said Fort Myers Beach Communications Director Nicole Berzin said Saturday that the leak was fixed Fort Myers Beach Councilmember John King said Thursday he had been informed that the hole that developed was acting like quicksand A video taken of the sputtering water and hole by an onlooker showed the water circling and gushing out The smell from the sand-mixed seawater initially led some to wonder if what they were witnessing was something different though Chris Hill a superintendent from Ahtna Marine and Construction Company said he believed it was purely a water leak that was caused by sand wearing out the pipe you have sand wearing out the pipes which caused a split in the pipe sand slides over the pipe and the bottom half Contractors worked to dig out the pipe and make repairs which lasted to late afternoon and early evening as a section of the park was closed off to allow for the equipment from the contractors to be transported on the beach to make the repairs The pipe was then buried again under the sand we try to dig it out immediately,” Hill said Hill said this was the second time such a leak occurred in the project The first time was near the beginning of the sand dredging project Hill blamed it on the type of sand being used He said the sand has been blowing around due to the high winds in the area over the last several months which included two hurricanes – Milton and Helene Hill said there is about four miles of pipe for the dredging and sand renourishment work This is the longest dredging project he said he has worked on The pipe stretches for miles up the beach and is currently situated near Leonardo Arms which has faced the largest erosion of its shoreline Instead of starting the beach renourishment project at Leonardo Arms last year after shorebird nesting season began the town and its contractors started the project on the northern end of the island last summer The contractors only began on the southern end of the project in January The southern end of the island is where the bulk of the town’s shorebird nesting activity takes place The project has run several months past the expected completion time When the Town of Fort Myers Beach bid out the project and awarded the bid to Ahtna in May the project was supposed to be completed in 180 days – with an allowance to 195 days The project has now far exceeded that timeframe by more than three months The Town of Fort Myers Beach Council awarded the bid to Ahtna Marine and Construction Company last May despite a bid protest from Callan Marine Callan Marine alleged that the bid by Ahtna was was more $15 million below the bid of Callan Marine as well as two other competitors who bid even hire was not responsive to the bid specifications as it could not be completed on time based on the equipment Ahtna would have on hand based on its bid response Fort Myers Beach Environmental Project Manager Chadd Chustz said the project’s timeline has now been extended to May 31 after previously been extended to April 1 and then April 15 According to a source familiar with the workings of the project the May 31 deadline announced by the town might not even be the actual timeframe for when the project is completed There is a possibility the project could extend into June or July which includes nesting for several threatened bird species that nest on the island The sea turtle nesting season technically begins on May 1 though Turtle Time begins its work identifying nests and other sea turtle activity on the beach April 15 Chustz said the town will work with Turtle Time to relocate any nests which need to be moved for safety reasons Chustz said Thursday a Wilson’s plover nest Town of Fort Myers Beach Manager Andy Hyatt and Town of Fort Myers Beach Mayor Dan Allers did not return messages seeking comment The incident Thursday occurred during what is historically one of the town’s busiest weeks One of the last of the 1960’s era old Florida beachfront hotels on Fort Myers Beach is being taken down more than two years after Hurricane Ian effectively destroyed an icon of the southern side of town formerly a Holiday Inn where a shuffleboard and tennis court once stood where Pincher’s once operated a restaurant where Jet Ski rentals could be found and whose beach property is among the more expansive on the entire island The hotel’s owners had been ordered by the town last September to demolish the structures at 6890 Estero Boulevard or risk having the town doing the work itself after it was cited as an unsafe building The work started in recent weeks and has accelerated The hotel dates back to 1969 and was last traded hands for $12 million in 2001 Its owners FMBH LLC and Herbert Pohlmann Jr have so far not made any proposals to the town for how or if a hotel will be rebuilt on the lot where two buildings that house 102 motel units once stood and welcomed guests for decades located on Estero Boulevard close to Santini Plaza was among the hardest-hit commercial structures on the southern portion of the island after Hurricane Ian struck two years ago Debris from the hotel and cars that were in the lot floated across Estero Boulevard to neighboring properties during the hurricane recently informed the town that its representative would be John Callis to handle affairs Callis did not return messages seeking comment A message left with Wyndham’s corporate communications was not responded to The loss of the hotel is a big one for the town as it was one of the main places for visitors to stay on the southern beach of the island “The loss of the Wyndham and the Pinchers on the south end of our island has been devastating,” Fort Myers Beach Vice Mayor Jim Atterholt said has created a huge vacuum for hotels and restaurants — particularly on the beach Replacing these fine institutions in some form must be a priority as we move forward with our island rebuild.” Former Fort Myers Beach Mayor Anita Cereceda Gift Gallery & Boutique just down the street at Santini Plaza said The Wyndham “has been a great loss for south-end islanders and all of Fort Myers Beach The tiki bar and restaurant were something that everyone frequented from time to time Whether it was the Holiday Inn back in the day or the Wyndham most recently and probably still has a lot of great memories for most of us.” Atterholt said the town is still “anxious to see the remaining debris cleared from the property.” “It would be my hope that any future development include a hotel restaurant and a tiki bar facing the beach,” Atterholt said The Town of Fort Myers Beach is seeking volunteers to sit on the town’s Charter Review Commission Applications to the town clerk are due May 15 The town council will be appointing five residents to sit on the commission which is formed every 10 years to review the town’s charter and suggest potential amendments or updates you must be a full-time resident of the Town of Fort Myers Beach submit a resume and will be required to comply with the Florida Sunshine Law and Ethics Law Commission members will meet regularly or as needed throughout the review process which shall end no later than 2026 and will be formally disbanded by the Town Council upon receipt of the Commission’s recommendation Meetings will be scheduled at convenient times as determined by the Commission visit the town’s website or email Town Clerk Amy Baker at amy@fmbgov.com for more information The Town Council will vote June 2 on an appointment When the Best Western Plus Beach Resort reopens this weekend for the first time since before Hurricane Ian one of the most fascinating and surely welcoming features for its returning customers will be the survival of the shuffleboard court along with its outdoor pool “Brutal,” is how Best Western Managing General Partner Tim Malbon describes the road his Fort Myers Beach hotel has taken to recovery since Hurricane Ian Malbon is jubilant for the hotel’s reopening this weekend which has been long anticipated The return of its 75 rooms back online will be big sigh of relief for Fort Myers Beach which has lost a lot of hotel and vacation rental rooms since Hurricane Ian The Best Western Plus Beach Resort has been in his family’s hands for more than 30 years since they took over the beachfront hotel on the north end of the island was on track for an earlier opening but a candid Malbon said there were delays due to some drywall subcontractors not meeting the standards he and his partners expected “I felt like we rebuilt it three times,” Malbon said The hotel looks as good as new now and despite all the damage the recovery of the Best Western is a remarkable feat We had to gut everything,” Malbon said of the hotel structure There wasn’t anything we could really keep.” While a cottage believed to have dated back to the 1950’s did not survive on the backside of the resort the shuffleboard court and outdoor pool are in tiptop shape The cottage had long been used as an extended stay rental “We had about three feet of water on the second floor and quite a bit of damage to the first floor,” Malbon said fourth and fifth floors were in much better shape Malbon said the rebuild was slowed by Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton Malbon said the resort is still looking to hire some maintenance and housekeeping help “We’re getting everybody working together on the same page.” Malbon said he thinks the recovery of Fort Myers Beach is still a little “too slow” for him He was hopeful that Lee County’s Bowditch Point Regional Park and Lynn Memorial Park which are both within walking distance to the Best Western The rebuild of the Fort Myers Beach Pier is still a couple years away from being completed The Best Western’s clientele is “98% leisure,” Malbon said They cater to a lot of families and seniors Holiday Watersports is on their beach property to provide chairs and umbrellas The Best Western Plus Beach Resort Is located at 684 Estero Boulevard on Fort Myers Beach The Town of Fort Myers Beach Local Planning Agency (LPA) unanimously approved the Arches Bayfront hotel project at Moss Marina with a Comprehensive Plan amendment and Commercial Planned Development rezoning The project required eight deviations from the town’s local development code including deviations from the town’s height restrictions and for a parking reduction of 50% The project had been recommended for denial by town planning staff The Town of Fort Myers Beach Council must still hold hearings on the development The approvals occurred near the end of a nearly nine-hour meeting The developers had previously proposed a 400-room hotel at the site and pulled back their plans before bringing in their new plans This was the first meeting by the LPA on the new plans Chair Anita Cereceda asked that the developers bring forth new plans to provide more buffering from the project for several neighbors who had spoke up at the hearing to oppose the project “Your project is going to change things dramatically,” Cereceda said “It’s going to change their neighborhood.” Cereceda said that it was a difficult decision for her to arrive at after initially opposing the original plans Cereceda voted to approve the plans along with the rest of the board and said that while the project is “high it’s dense,” but said “I think I am doing the right thing.” The developers were represented by The Neighborhood Company planning consultants headed by Patrick Vanasse a former Local Planning Agency board member the firm recently helped win approvals for a food truck park near the Pelican Watch condo building Vanasse responded to concerns by Cereceda about creating more of a buffer between the development and neighbors by saying he would come back with plans for plantings Mostero said storm drainage is a major problem in the area and expressed concerns about flooding issues Mostero said the buildings would tower over his home Mostero said the project would “drastically change our neighborhood.” said he was never contacted by the Freeland family proposing the development Atwood expects a large increase in vehicular traffic which she said would interfere with the local said he believed the project would devalue his home and that the LPA did not follow the directives of the town’s professional planners that recommended denial of the project Having lived here through that whole Margaritaville battle which went on for years,” Bonema said Bonema said he couldn’t understand how the Arches Bayfront project (which is approximately 30 feet taller) was allowed so much quicker while closer to more residential properties It will probably be nicer than Fort Lauderdale.” Arches Bayfront will have its first hearing in front of the town council on Monday — A food truck park proposed just off Estero Boulevard received its final unanimous approval from the Fort Myers Beach Town Council on Monday Watch as Fort Myers Beach Community Correspondent Anvar Ruziev Speaks with neighbors at the proposed food truck park site: has been at the center of debate for months The approved project includes 39 parking spaces Vibrant design renderings presented to the council depict a lively colorful park aimed at bringing new business to the beachside community Many neighbors from across Estero Boulevard voiced support saying the development could help revitalize the area it'll take five years for restaurants to really be open so food trucks temporarily particularly those who live next door to the site expressed concern about the park’s impact on property values and quality of life—even before construction has begun and we have documentation from a realtor to prove it We've had buyers say no simply because they're looking for a quiet part of the island and they know about the food truck development and they say hey that's not what we're looking for."Some residents said they are considering legal action against the town claiming the project will lower their property values the development required 29 code deviations to move forward "You're trying to put a square peg in a round hole 'I'll get this damn thing in there I'll get it to fit' — It doesn't!"Despite the tension a compromise was reached during the meeting Developers agreed to add more physical barriers between the food truck park and the neighboring lots and to limit the amount of amplified music allowed “I think the negotiation from both sides was well respected not everyone got what they wanted and I think that tells you that you probably had a good negotiation,” said Mayor Dan Allers.To minimize noise pollution the food trucks will be hooked up to electric and sewer utilities Generators will only be used in case of a power outage The project is being positioned as a temporary mid-term solution during the island’s post-hurricane recovery The food truck park is expected to operate for about five years the land’s new entitlements—including its schedule of approved uses—will remain with the property after that time raising concerns among some full-time residents The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) will remove the Town of Fort Myers Beach from probation Nov according to a notice issued by the Federal Emergency Management Agency on April 28 The move will lift the $50 surcharge applied to all NFIP flood insurance policies within the town a fee imposed when Fort Myers Beach was placed on probation in November for violations tied to post-Hurricane Ian rebuilding FEMA determined the town has met the five corrective actions required to exit probation which included reassessing floodplain development improving code enforcement and addressing noncompliant structures "We were excited to get it in writing,” Mayor Dan Allers said “We were confident all along that we were going to be able to get that decision reversed as quickly as possible and in good communication between both FEMA and our staff we've been able to achieve it fairly quickly.” That downgrade took effect April 1, causing significantly higher insurance premiums for many property owners FEMA placed Fort Myers Beach on probation after finding major issues with floodplain management missing documentation and inadequate enforcement of rebuilding regulations in special flood hazard areas These problems emerged in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian in 2022 While other municipalities in Lee County maintained their CRS ratings by submitting acceptable improvement plans leading to the downgrade and financial penalties Allers acknowledged the town had some responsibility for the delay “We were just as much at fault as anyone else correcting anything that we need to correct to make sure we get this first step completed which we have — getting off probation — that will alleviate any concerns out there potentially being kicked out of the program.” FEMA outlined five required corrective actions in a July 2024 letter to Town Manager Andy Hyatt Allers said two of FEMA's action items were handled by the initial deadline in November while the remaining three were primarily clerical “The format that we had essentially wasn't necessarily what exactly FEMA was looking for There was some data that needed to be entered in,” Allers said “Once we were able to get clear direction from them of exactly what it is they were looking for to see and how they would like to see it we were able to get that together and get all the information in there that they required for their review.” Town officials credited a collaborative effort including local staff residents and support from federal and state lawmakers While the $50 surcharge will be lifted in November, regaining the flood insurance discount is a separate process. FEMA will conduct a Community Assistance Visit no later than Aug to verify that the town is enforcing its regulations and addressing remaining noncompliant structures Only after a successful CAV will Fort Myers Beach become eligible to reapply for CRS classification The earliest possible date to regain a rating that qualifies for flood insurance discounts is April 1 get back our 25% discount as early as April of next year,” Allers said Town leaders are also looking at broader efforts to strengthen storm resilience and improve their rating the highest level you could get in the CRS rating," Allers said should we ever get hit again and never have to go through this ever again.” Mickenzie Hannon is a watchdog reporter for The News-Press and Naples Daily News, covering Collier and Lee counties. Contact her at 239-435-3423 or mhannon@gannett.com Photos of the ongoing construction of the new Big Carlos Pass Bridge on Fort Myers Beach which faced opposition from the Town of Fort Myers Beach when approved by the Lee County Board of County Commissioners The project is expected to be completed in 2026 at a cost of approximately $90 million Governor Ron DeSantis announced the appointment of Christine Riedel King to the Fort Myers Beach Public Library District.  Riedel King is the Lead Strategist of Marketing Operations for Principal Financial Group she is the Chair of the Anchorage Advisory Committee and previously served as a board member for the Des Moines Arts Festival Riedel King earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism and German from the University of Iowa Terry Persaud welcomed the public to meet with him to discuss his plans for a hotel at Times Square a large group of local and nonlocal businessmen showed up to watch as Persaud took questions from a small group of residents and gave a pep talk to his supporters Several Times Square property owners were among those in attendance taking in the gathering The main concern from opponents is how the nearly 70-feet tall hotel (52 feet above flood elevation) would impact the view of the Gulf as motorists traverse over the Matanzas Pass Bridge located at the southern edge of Times Square where motorists cross over to Estero Boulevard on Fort Myers Beach would undisputably change the skyline view and block cherished views of the Gulf It was also a concern during hearings over the plans for the Margaritaville Beach Resort – a project that Persaud likes to compare his development to being just slightly taller than “It will be the same as Margaritaville,” Persaud said Another concern for those who showed up Thursday is whether there is enough parking on site to accommodate a mixed-use hotel that would be at least four stories high Persaud said there would be 66 parking spaces which would include his current lot that he uses to charge beachgoers for parking building another restaurant at Times Square would be a tougher assignment to recoup his investment on what he estimates it will cost him to rebuild to the new flood codes and standards on the beachfront property Persaud owns two of the three beachfront properties at Times Square making him one of the keys to the future success and redevelopment of the town’s iconic tourist destination Both are empty lots that were completely decimated by Hurricane Ian One lot borders the dilapidated Fort Myers Beach Pier that also sits in ruins after Hurricane Ian The Pier Peddler and the PierSide Grill and Famous Blowfish Bar Persaud owns the lot where the Sunset Beach Tropical Grill once stood across the street from Margaritaville and is where Persaud wants to build a 48-50 room hotel and restaurant Persaud will need generous deviations from the Town of Fort Myers Beach Land Development Code for its height A Local Planning Agency (LPA) hearing Tuesday will be the first official reaction from the town to his plans Persaud will need town council approval of his deviations regardless of the outcome of the LPA meeting though depending on how his project is received – it could potentially go back to the drawing board before going to the town council The hotel is proposed to be 69 feet and eight inches tall – with about 13 feet of that is for an accessory structure to accommodate an elevator to reach a proposed rooftop bar in order for the bar to be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act the height of the proposed hotel is considered to be 52 feet above flood elevation there would be a restaurant and bar on the bottom floor that would be similar to the Sunset Beach Tropical Grill who owns the La Ola property across from where Persaud’s hotel would go said he wants Persaud to succeed though he said the specifics of the plans may not appeal to everybody “He is taking a huge business risk and a very expensive one,” Primeau said “I think ultimately he wants to have a great business here and I hope he has the opportunity to do that the return of the Sunset Beach Tropical Grill would be a personal boost Lawrence said the restaurant was his best gig on Fort Myers Beach “I used to sing two times a week,” he said “It was packed every Sunday regardless of the time of the year,” Lawrence said “This is our opportunity to create the Times Square for the future,” he said Frank said the hotel would help bring back the “tropical beach vibe” to the town He said the Fort Myers Beach Fishing Pier at Times Square used to bring 1.9 million visitors to the town a year The pier is not slated to be rebuild for another two years Frank said it was important for people in the town “to work cooperatively instead of resistance to get things done.” Frank said that while the town is “cleaned up Fort Myers Beach Mayor Dan Allers said “the devil is in the details.” this is the first place people see when they come over the bridge It’s important that whatever gets developed here is done right can be proud and we honor what came before us.” Allers said that while he hasn’t looked into the specifics of the plans he said “this project is very important.” Allers said he expects the plans to change after the Local Planning Agency hearing Fort Myers Beach resident Ellen Vaughan had a generally positive view of Persaud’s plans Vaughan said in reference to the updated hurricane elevation codes “There is always going to be tradeoffs,” Vaughan said Persaud said he believed the feedback he received Thursday was “very positive.” Persaud has been involved in developing homes on Fort Myers Beach near the former Junkanoo and Fresh Catch Bistro buildings stood more than two years after they were destroyed by Hurricane Ian He also owns property off island at the corner of San Carlos Boulevard and Pine Ridge Road He had been working with other Times Square property owners on unified plans for a rebuilt Times Square but said those were put off after several businessowners died over the past year “We’re still working as a group,” Persaud said “It’s very difficult to rebuild on Fort Myers Beach.” Persaud splits his time between Fort Myers Beach and Minnesota He calls Fort Myers Beach “paradise” and thinks his hotel will be a good fit for the town There was another group of neighbors unhappy at a public hearing in front of the Fort Myers Beach Council on Monday pleading to councilmembers not to allow a commercial intrusion on a parcel about seven-tenths of an acre near their doorsteps This time the development in question was a food truck park in front of the Pelican Watch condo building which required a Commercial Planned Development zoning change and 29 conditions from the town council for approval The project also required deviations from the town’s setback requirements in the land development code The food truck park is being developed by an Indiana-based company known as Empire Holdings sailed through a hearing in front of the town council Monday despite the opposition of neighbors Like other public hearings in which neighbors had come out to oppose a development councilmembers sided with the developer on Monday giving unanimous approval to a project that neighbors worried will devalue their homes lead to increased traffic around their properties and bring music at all hours of the day threatened to sue the town over the approvals Vice Mayor Jim Atterholt and Mayor Dan Allers verbally sparred over one of the conditions relating to live music with Atterholt arguing for more restrictions on how many days and how many hours the food truck park could be allowed to have live music Allers pushed for fewer restrictions on both live music and ambient music a compromise was reached which will allow live music on three days a week for four hours with a fourth day allowed for another form of amplified entertainment that would not include a live band or background recorded music or radio music would be permitted from 7 a.m Atterholt had pushed to limit the ambient music to between noon and 8 p.m while Allers objected to any restrictions on the ambient music The owners of the Pelican Watch had pushed for limitations on ambient music or recorded music (or radio music) from noon to 8 p.m Allers successfully pushed for an adoption of the new ordinance which will allow the owners of the property to play ambient music at all times of operation Atterholt asked that the food truck park operators build sound protection measures inside the open-air building where performances will take place and alcohol will be served “These people will hear this live music even with doors shut and AC running,” Atterholt said “Three days a week seems invasive.” Atterholt worried about the impact of the music on the quality of life for nearby homeowners Councilmember Karen Woodson said no drums or percussion would be allowed Atterholt said the developers should work to accommodate the neighbors by being respective of their concerns on the noise “You are going to need their support for your business model,” he said a beachfront condo property in a residential neighborhood near where the former Town Hall was located had strenuously objected to the plans in front of their property The original request would have placed the food truck park within seven and a half feet of the condo association’s pool the developers agreed to a 15-feet buffer from the pool and agreed to plant trees and construct shade sails as part of the buffer The developers also pledged to build a four-feet high decorative fence from Estero Boulevard to the park closing time to the objections of town staff who only wanted to allow the park to be open until 9 p.m Legal counsel representing Pelican Watch condo owners agreed to allow the park to stay open until 10 p.m during the summer or daylight savings time The approvals would seem to raise certain issues relating to sea turtle season where restrictions on light near the beach is restricted after 9 p.m representing the developers as a partner in the planning consultant firm The Neighborhood Company and formerly a member of the Fort Myers Beach Local Planning Agency pushed for the food truck park to be allowed to have live music and ambient music “might not be the primary drive of the business plan” and live music is one of the tools they may need “If we can get them one extra tool that can help them be successful I would say let’s please consider that,” Vanasse said The project had narrowly been approved by the Fort Myers Beach Local Planning Agency in a 4-3 vote The ordinance allows the developers to apply for six special event permits a year which owners at the Pelican Watch had opposed While the council approved the plans Monday there were other outstanding questions remaining such as a traffic impact statement Town planner Judith Frankel had insisted the developers provide a traffic impact statement while to date they had only agreed to a trip generator study The planning consultants had referred to a 2008 study which they said showed less traffic though Frankel questioned the accuracy of that study The town council’s approval of the plans require a traffic impact statement though how the impact statement would affect the plans for the food truck park wasn’t clear The most strident opponent of the plans Monday who owns property near the park at Chapel Street and Cottage Street and who threatened to sue the town over the approvals Tezak called the zoning change approved by the town council to be spot zoning He said the plans approved by the town council contradict the town’s comprehensive plan and would devalue his properties “This is way beyond anything that should go there,” Tezak said Tezak said the park would lead to more parking and traffic issues in the neighborhood “I have to kick people out of my driveway every day,” Tezak said “This is not what we are looking for.” The Pelican Watch condo owners were also concerned about the food truck park leading to a wave of vehicle traffic through their property The Pelican Watch group had asked the developers to finance a security gate for their property which both the developers declined to do – and which the council declined to endorse Fort Myers Beach Councilmember Scott Safford asked town counsel Nancy Stuparich if she believed the town’s rezoning of the property was spot zoning Stuparich said that while she hadn’t researched the case law cited by Tezak she said the rezoning did not appear to be spot zoning Tezak said spot zoning occurs when a zoning change confers special benefits to a single property owner that is inconsistent with comprehensive planning and doesn’t offer a public benefit Tezak asked the town council if they would want the food truck park next to their homes Councilmember John King replied that he lived next to the Big Carlos Pass Bridge Mayor Dan Allers remarked that he may have sided with Tezak and Pelican Watch if homes that were near the park were still standing after Hurricane Ian “Hurricane Ian has changed some things,” Allers said “If those houses were there my mind would be different today That comment irked Tezak who said that Allers was in turn saying that due to Hurricane Ian “let’s just build whatever the hell we want.” Tezak said he was planning on rebuilding a home that his family had lived in for 35 years Tezak said the council was trying to fit “a round peg into a square hole,” by allowing the food truck park so close to the residential properties The developers had originally proposed to build the food park within seven and a half feet of the pool of the Pelican Watch As part of a compromise ahead of Monday’s meeting the developers agreed to make it 12 and a half feet from the pool (the land development code required a 15 feet buffer) while constructing a buffer that included shade sails and the planting of trees they received a deviation from the land development code to have a closer setback from Estero Boulevard while constructing a fence The food truck park would be located on property where a restaurant once stood The hearing held on Monday was the second hearing held by the council The council is required to hold two readings for the new ordinance a commercial planned development though the second reading on Monday included many changes from the first reading That led Councilmember Karen Woodson to question whether the council needed to hold an additional hearing with all of the changes said that while it would have been ideal for all of the changes to the language of the ordinance and its conditions to have been finalized before Monday’s meeting “It is always better to have that in advance but sometimes that can’t happen Tezak was just one of several neighbors visibly angry with the plans said she would no longer be able to look forward to a weekend of a “nice breeze and quiet” because of the food truck that would be parked in front of her property and the endless traffic Sally Goldberg said the food truck park would be just 10 steps from her property “I can’t imagine anybody with a good conscience would be good with spot zoning,” Goldberg said president of the Pelican Watch Condo Owners Association told the town council that the association had spent more than $10 million in repairs since Hurricane Ian and was more than $2 million in debt and that this project would impact their property values Developers offer free parking for first 20 minutes As part of their parking plan to alleviate traffic said parking will be managed by a kiosk on Chapel Street with a ticket with free parking for the first 20 minutes The cost for other time frames will be at the operator’s discretion A longtime resident of Chapel Street said it will be more difficult to get onto Estero Boulevard from the residential properties of neighbors once the food truck park is built who had expressed concern at the previous town council meeting for the proximity of the development to the Pelican Watch pool said she was satisfy with the extension of the buffer to 12 and a half feet and the new shade sails in the plans it is going to be fantastic,” Woodson said Councilmember John King was concerned about the parking situation though he voted to support the project “We are failing these folks on Chapel and Cottage with enforcement If it is currently such a problem with a food truck on the other side we are letting those folks down and even more so if this comes to fruition,” King said Allers said he objected to the requirement of a security gate as asked for by the Pelican Watch condo owners “I don’t think it should be a burden” on the developers “It’s hard to assume they won’t be a good neighbor,” Allers said King suggested the town place signs to direct traffic away from Pelican Watch it was Allers who had once proposed a food truck park across the street from the proposed site at the old town hall after Hurricane Ian — What began as a peaceful afternoon turned into chaos when a dredge pipe unexpectedly burst near the shoreline sending water shooting into the air and beachgoers scrambling for safety Watch as Fort Myers Beach community correspondent Anvar Ruziev visits the site where the pipe burst: captured video of water bubbling up from the sand “The water just started bubbling up and it comes up like a foot out of the ground,” Case said The pipe is part of the Fort Myers Beach renourishment project which pumps sand from offshore dredges onto the beach Case said he didn’t hear any explosion or warning—just commotion from others nearby “It was sort of chaos for a while because we didn’t know what it was,” Case said “It almost looked like quicksand,” Case said “It was just sloshing back and forth like it was fixing to erupt.”Town officials later confirmed that the wet sand can behave like quicksand and urged people to steer clear of the area “Wet sand looks like quicksand and quicksand looks like wet sand,” said Environmental Project Manager Chadd Chustz Officials haven’t confirmed what caused the pipe to rupture and a contractor onsite tells FOX 4 they expect the work to be finished by Friday Sanibel Captiva Community Bank has opened a temporary office on Fort Myers Beach to provide banking services for local residents and businesses prior to its permanent branch opening next year The temporary location is now open inside the Access Title Agency building on the third floor Bank staff are available onsite every Wednesday from 9:30 a.m Services available at the temporary office include account opening This temporary office enables the bank to establish an on-island presence and serve both new and existing customers while development of its permanent full-service branch is underway the new full-service branch is anticipated to open in 2026 Construction planning remains actively underway and the bank is working closely with project partners to finalize timelines Deb Mooneyham has been named office manager for the bank’s Fort Myers Beach temporary office and will lead the future branch upon its opening A longtime member of the Fort Myers Beach community Mooneyham brings nearly 50 years of banking experience more than 30 of which have been spent serving customers on the island “This temporary office allows us to start serving the Fort Myers Beach community now rather than waiting for our permanent branch to open,” said Kyle DeCicco president and CEO of Sanibel Captiva Community Bank “As the island continues to recover and rebuild from hurricanes over the past few years it’s important for us to be present and accessible Supporting our community through every stage of that recovery is central to who we are as a local For more information about the Fort Myers Beach temporary office or future full-service branch Sanibel Captiva Community Bank has eight locations open throughout Lee County the staff is operating out of a temporary mobile banking unit due to major flood damage to the existing building Construction on the new building is underway and is expected to be completed in 2025 The bank is nationally ranked in the top 2% best-performing community banks by S&P Global Market Intelligence out of more than 4,400 banks with assets under $1 billion It is well-capitalized and generates one of the highest returns on equity of all Florida banks and more than 60% are current shareholders the bank has contributed well over $4.5 million to over 400 local charitable causes and employees volunteer close to 1,000 hours annually Sanibel Captiva Community Bank’s team members provide customized individual and business banking services and specialize in residential and commercial lending The bank offers personal and business checking residential and commercial lending services instant issue debit cards and a full array of digital banking products and services There’s good news out of Fort Myers Beach following the catastrophic hurricane Ian in 2022: The town is going off probation with the National Flood Insurance Program Residents who carry National Flood Insurance saw their premiums skyrocket this year when the town was placed on probation affectively canning the 25 percent discounts they were getting it’s possible the discounts will come back to the residents "This discount is very important," Allers said So our staff is doing everything we can to make sure we get the best and the largest discount we can get With the exception of the city of Fort Myers and Sanibel Island the Town of Fort Myers was among every municipality in Lee County — including unincorporated Lee -- in jeopardy of being kicked out of the program in the months following Hurricane Ian Being placed on probation serves as warning before that happens only Fort Myers Beach was put on probation the 25 percent discount on National Flood Insurance premiums went away recently Discounts are based on a series of steps a municipality must take in order to maintain good standing and earn discounts through the Community Rating System "Now we're going to be very much focusing on what we have to do to get back in the good graces of the community rating system and get our discount back for our residents," Allers said He said town leaders meet with workers from the Federal Emergency Management Association at least weekly to track progress in meeting their goals to build back a more resilient island WGCU is your trusted source for news and information in Southwest Florida. We are a nonprofit public service, and your support is more critical than ever. Keep public media strong and donate now A group of Fort Myers Beach residents have filed a lawsuit against the Town of Fort Myers Beach and Seagate Development Group over the Town of Fort Myers Beach Council’s approval in December of a local development agreement for a multi-building high-rise condo development that allowed the developers deviations from the town’s height restrictions for the buildings to reach 17 stories high at the former Red Coconut RV Park the towers would rise to more than 250 feet making them the highest buildings on Fort Myers Beach filed in 20th Judicial Circuit for Lee County seeks to quash the ordinance approving the Seagate of Fort Myers Beach The project faced a large amount of opposition from neighbors around Donora Boulevard and Shell Mound Boulevard and others in the community The lawsuit alleges the development agreement application was not supported by competent substantial evidence and departed from the essential requirements of the law; and denied due process The lawsuit names the Town of Fort Myers Beach and Seagate Development Group as parties to the claim The lawsuit was filed by the Riddle family the development was approved for a private beach club on the beachfront side of its property along with a skywalk connecting the two sides of the property 17-story condominium towers in the center of a low-density single-family neighborhood in the heart of the Island.” The lawsuit notes that the Fort Myers Beach Local Planning Agency voted to reject the project and the request for deviations from the town’s height limit of three stories and 30 feet above base flood elevation for development in that area the Fort Myers Beach residents cited the town’s vote to incorporate in 1995 as a response to the proliferation of high-rise buildings that residents wanted to stop The lawsuit refers to the town’s comprehensive plan is to “maintain the small-town character of Fort Myers Beach.” The lawsuit maintains that the approvals for Seagate violate the town’s comprehensive plan “The Town of Fort Myers Beach was born of dissatisfaction with the land-use policies of Lee County,” the suit states Fort Myers Beach was under the jurisdiction of Lee County’s comprehensive plan and land development code which many residents felt did not protect their interests “grew as large-scale developments were approved by Lee County allowing taller buildings and higher densities than many residents wanted.” One of the major catalysts for incorporation was “Lee County’s approval of the DiamondHead Beach Resort–a 12 story hotel which sits at a height of approximately 154 feet Other pre-incorporation developments included Ocean Harbor Condominiums (16 stories and 150 dwelling units) and Caper Beach Club (12 stories and 103 dwelling units).” which Seagate Development Group paid $52 million for had its own zoning set forth in the town’s local development code provides for a “pre-approved redevelopment option” in the local development code for the Gulfview Colony/Red Coconut area in which the goal was for a “traditional neighborhood design; detached houses or cottages abutting existing single-family homes; low-rise townhomes or apartments allowed toward the center; walkable narrow streets that double as view corridors; substantial open space with views to be maintained from Estero Boulevard to the Gulf.” The lawsuit takes issue with the approval process for the town’s local development agreement with Seagate which it says is the first of its kind in the town The filing also claims that the town council did not adequately assess public benefit when approving the deviations the lawsuit refers to councilmember John King citing the economic benefits that Local Planning Agency member James Dunlap claimed the development would bring the town The lawsuit alleges that King was relying on “unqualified statements” at a hearing on the application “Nowhere in the comprehensive plan or the Local development code does it state that financial viability is a basis for granting a deviation from the local development code’s strict height limits,” the lawsuit declares The lawsuit also takes aim at the public benefit of the project which the petitioners clear was not clearly defined in order for the developers to be granted consideration for the deviations given for height The approval process was contentious with residents voicing concerns about the development’s impact on traffic beach views and other concerns related to the shadow of the tall towers that would hover above near their properties Seagate developer Matt Price called the process a “s—t show.” Price could not immediately reached for comment to respond to the lawsuit The Town of Fort Myers Beach Council voted 3-2 in December to approve Seagate’s plans Voting in favor were Fort Myers Beach Vice Mayor Jim Atterholt Councilmember John King and Councilmember Karen Woodson Voting to oppose the plans were Mayor Dan Allers and Councilmember Scott Safford Town of Fort Myers Beach Manager Andy Hyatt said he would be declining comment “We do not comment on pending litigation,” Hyatt said Allers did not immediately return messages seeking comment on the lawsuit the petitioners and their attorneys Gabriel Arbois Theodore Tripp and Michael Whitt argue that the failure of the town council to apply the correct provisions of the local development code Army Garrison Commander William McKannay was unanimously chosen by the Town of Fort Myers Beach Council to be the next town manager pending contract negotiations McKannay’s qualifications easily impressed the town council His experience responding to natural disasters is something Fort Myers Beach residents should be able to relate in part to he was deployed to some of the most devastated places in the world He was sent to Honduras to help in humanitarian efforts when Hurricane Mitch struck and killed thousands of people in 1998 He was in Haiti on a similar trip in 2010 after an earthquake killed tens of thousands of people “There was massive destruction,” McKannay said While he said the ability to help those in needed was rewarding he found “the loss of life was difficult.” He served in the Iraq War as a military police commander during some of the worst battles of Falujah “I am very proud of what my police and soldiers did.” McKannay also served during the war in Afghanistan he helped train police to take over after the collapse of their governments he said he took part in raids on weapons caches and on improvised explosive device factories “I have a lot of pride with how the soldiers performed in very difficult conditions,” he said Sometimes it “seems like a long time ago” and other times not so long ago he responded to tornadoes that caused millions of dollars in damage to homes and infrastructure He had to develop plans for rebuilding and apply to the federal government for aid He hopes his military experience and background in dealing with emergencies can help Fort Myers Beach with its rebuilding efforts and — heaven forbid — any other emergency sent by Mother Nature McKannay served as an emergency management consultant The council picked McKannay from among five finalists following a meet-and-greet with the public a round of one-on-one interview questions and a public interview session with the candidates McKannay is looking forward to the new chapter in his life and I’m excited about the opportunity,” McKannay said McKannay said he was looking forward to helping the town with its ongoing projects and “helping this community continue to excel.” McKannay said he was impressed by what he’s seen He has a positive attitude about the town’s future “My first impression of the town was the sense of community from the brief interactions.” McKannay said he is “positively impressed by the rebuilding and the reconstruction that has already happened McKannay said he believes there is a desire in the town to “bring the community back to what it was and maybe even better.” Fort Myers Beach Mayor Dan Allers said he liked the poise shown by McKannay and his organizational skills Allers said McKannay will have a lot of work to do on helping the town work to regain its National Flood Insurance Program discount and transition to a new town hall “He has a lot to wrap his head around,” Allers said Vice Mayor Jim Atterholt said he was “thankful” that McKannay was a unanimous choice experience and tremendous leadership skills.” Fort Myers Beach Councilmember Scott Safford said that McKannay’s emergency management experience will benefit the town I think he’s going to be an incredible asset to the town,” Safford said Safford said he believes McKannay will help the town form a strategic plan Born in Oregon and raised in both Oregon and southern California as the son of a U.S McKannay said he has an affinity for the beach He spent part of his military career in Hawaii where he helped prepare teams to endure de-mining activities in Vietnam and Laos McKannay said that in his short time around Fort Myers Beach he has seen that the island “is a great community to be a part of.” He stresses that he will be a leader who listens to the concerns of the community and who will rely on the aid of staff to bring him up to speed as he takes office He said he has been struck by the passion in the community “It’s evident how many people care for the community the town council voted to extend Manager Andy Hyatt another 30 days to assist with the transition Hyatt had announced he would step down from the job April 30 The extension will keep him with the town through the end of May In the past many of you have helped us raise money for ebikes for people in need it will allow us to give the maximum donation to the organization and not have to spend a penny on supplies for the runners We are down to only needing water and peanut butter (This story has been updated to correct the names of the Honc companies.) Lee County commissioners have announced that the Fort Myers Beach Pier will be rebuilt one year earlier than presumed The new expected opening is August of 2027 Construction is anticipated to begin in late 2026 Commissioner David Mulicka whose District 3 includes Fort Myers Beach was looking for the board's blessing to involve himself in county efforts to get the required permits quicker "It's a landmark we all love and miss," he said Mulicka said 16 months of the current time frame is because of review by the Army Corps of Engineers Mulicka is owner of Honc Destruction and had been with his father's Honc Marine before that The new pier will be 1,000 feet long and 12 feet wide more than 70% longer and 50% wider than the old pier The iconic pier was destroyed by Hurricane Ian on Sept. 28, 2022. Virtually all of the bustling Times Square area where the pier was located was swept away Mulicka said he's not afraid to go right to the top − in regards to getting the Army Corps of Engineers to expedite the project "The president we have today is not the president we had when we applied," he said.