The proposal by TPI to build a six-story hotel on the site of the former Silver Sands Resort on Estero Boulevard, was given approval for a second hearing by the Town of Fort Myers Beach Council on Monday. <\/p>\n
Former Fort Myers Beach Mayor Tracey Gore and neighbors of the proposed six-story hotel on the property of the former Silver Sands Resort are raising objections over the increased traffic they say the project will bring to their already-burdened residential street at Primo Drive.<\/p>\n
TPI, the developers of the Margaritaville Beach Resort, are seeking 11 deviations from town code for the 60-room hotel project dubbed \u201cOne Particular Habour\u201d on the .74 acre parcel. The hotel would be built at the intersection of Estero Boulevard and Primo Drive, where 22 cottages once stood.<\/p>\n
The deviations include a break from height requirements in the town code, which limits the height to three stories. The proposed hotel would be 70-feet high, above the town\u2019s height restrictions. Plans show the building rising between 5 and a half to six stories, with a rooftop pool. TPI is also seeking an exception from the town\u2019s parking requirements, to be able to provide just 46 parking spaces. The developers have plans to shuttle staff from property on Buttonwood Drive off island. They are also planning to build a pedestrian barrier.<\/p>\n
Gore, who lives on Primo Drive, said the size of the development is too dense for her residential street, which also intersects with The Whale, across from Margaritaville Beach Resort. That section of Estero Boulevard is the center of traffic during the town\u2019s busy season.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s just too big for that corner,\u201d Gore said. Gore said the hotel threatens the small-town character of her residential street.<\/p>\n
Gore has written letters to the Town of Fort Myers Beach Council expressing serious concerns about the impact to the narrow residential road from the proposed hotel. A dead end street, which abuts the hotel property, Gore said in an email to the Town Council that the project \u201cwill impede the only ingress\/egress we have to come and go to our homes on our already constrained dead-end street.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gore said \u201cit\u2019s a nightmare to get out now\u201d onto Estero Boulevard in the middle of season from Primo Drive. Traffic typically backs up at that section of Estero Boulevard during most of the day during season. \u201cNow you are going to add 60 units to where a fire truck can barely make it down,\u201d Gore said.<\/p>\n
Gore asked councilmembers to drive up and down Primo Drive to \u201csee for yourself the constraints we already have on our road that pavement to pavement is only about 16-feet wide. The parallel parking will not work.\u201d<\/p>\n
The project moved through its first hearing in front of the Town of Fort Myers Beach Council earlier this month and is due for a second public hearing on Aug. 24, when the Town Council could formally approve the project.<\/p>\n
During the first hearing, the representatives of the developers fielded questions about the height of the building, and related traffic.<\/p>\n
Councilmember John King asked about traffic concerns that have been related to the board, as well as height, intensity and density code deviations.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor the last year on social media I have seen all the smart people tell me Margaritaville is the gold standard of this town and now we have exceeded Margaritaville on this,\u201d King said.<\/p>\n
Vice Mayor Scott Safford asked TPI\u2019s planner Patrick Vanasse of The Neighborhood Company if the developers have reached to neighbors on Primo Drive about the traffic concerns.<\/p>\n
Vanasse said \u201cwe believe that the compromise we are presenting addresses that concern to the greatest extent that we can.\u201d <\/p>\n
Safford asked if there could be a change to the use of some of the parking spaces to limit traffic issues. Vanasse said they could put some planters in a few of the parking spaces in the off-season as a compromise.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat would be showing some good faith toward the neighbors,\u201d Safford said. \u201cLet\u2019s be honest. There are a lot of trucks there especially early in the morning, with deliveries and everything else. Anything we can do to help the flow of traffic would be really nice.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fort Myers Beach Mayor Dan Allers has recused himself from taking part in the review during the first hearing due to a business relationship with TPI. Councilmembers Rebecca Link and John McLean had no questions about the project.<\/p>\n
Gore said there are three utility poles in front of this property where the plan shows parking and that cars parking on the street would block traffic, as would Ubers.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is too high, it is too intense, and it is too many people for this little corner of a residential street with a very narrow road,\u201d Gore said. <\/p>\n
Gore said the project should be limited to three stories as the town code calls for. She said the project did not provide adequate benefits for the deviations being sought. \u201cThe noted extra sidewalks from 10 to 15 feet on Estero (Boulevard) side is not a benefit to the island residents, its just cementing the resort\u2019s property against the county\u2019s sidewalks that are already there. It takes you into the retail or resort. The pedestrian area at the corner just promotes people to hang out on an already crowded intersection,\u201d Gore wrote.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou are giving away height, density, intensity, uses with nothing in return and no conditions to protect the residential from noise, traffic,\u201d Gore wrote.<\/p>\n
\u201cI see no hardship, no reasoning to give six stories when three stories is our max,\u201d Gore said,<\/p>\n
There were previously 22 rental cottages on the site, with a swimming pool.<\/p>\n
Gore said the new hotel would be taller than Lighthouse Inn or Margaritaville Beach Resort. \u201cThis will create a tunnel effect on our street,\u201d Gore wrote to Town Council.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur street cannot handle this intensity. We all have cones up now to stop people from turning around on our properties. When the Whale has deliveries, its a struggle to maneuver around. Where would the Silver Sands deliveries be made?\u201d<\/p>\n
According to statements made by Vanasse, 36 of the units would be under 450 square feet and 24 would be more than 450 square feet. Torgerson said the rooms will be a combination of two-bay and three-bay suites with Gulf views and balconies.<\/p>\n
The owners are seeking to also build 2,500 square of commercial space on the first floor, which would be leased out.<\/p>\n
Gore has said the community benefit that TPI is offering the town in exchange for the deviations, is inadequate.<\/p>\n
Tom Torgerson, who helped build Margaritaville and who is involved in this project with TPI, said TPI is offering to expand sidewalks in front of the hotel on Estero Boulevard. That plan would require Lee County approval since Estero Boulevard is a Lee County road.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe pedestrian barrier is proposed in concept form to the Town as a public benefit that we are offering to pay for,\u201d Torgerson said.<\/p>\n
Torgerson said the Town of Fort Myers Beach Council would be approving the concept, and if they approve the One Particular Harbour project, it would go to Lee County for review and also back to the Town of Fort Myers Beach for permitting. Torgerson said he has discussed the pedestrian barriers with Lee County Department of Transportation (DOT) officials, who he said have expressed support. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt is up to the (Town of Fort Myers Beach) Council as to whether they want to have it,\u201d Torgerson said. \u201cLee DOT supports It, which was necessary to accomplish in order for us to offer it as a public benefit to the Town.\u201d<\/p>\n
Torgerson is also proposing pedestrian barriers along Estero Boulevard that he said would run from Primo Drive to Crescent Street. Those plans too would require approvals from Lee County. Torgerson said the Town of Fort Myers Beach Council would also be deciding whether to approve the concept of the barriers if they approve the project at the Aug. 24 meeting.<\/p>\n
Torgerson described the pedestrian barriers as jaywalking pedestrian barriers. <\/p>\n
Barriers along Estero Boulevard have been discussed in the past by former town councils but have also been controversial, raising questions about whether they could lead to more accidents on the sidewalks by leaving less room for pedestrians. Those potential issues have increased with the actions by the Town of Fort Myers Beach Council to allow electric bikes on sidewalks. Other concerns include whether barriers would lead to more pedestrian traffic being funneled to the busy intersection of Estero Boulevard and Crescent Street where the pedestrian traffic already bottles up.<\/p>\n
Torgerson said the new 60-room hotel will be separate from Margaritaville though guests will have access to all of the facilities at Margaritaville, including the pool. Torgerson, who is working with John Dammermann of TPI to build the project, said the hotel would act quasi-independently of Margaritaville, though guests would have access to all of the amenities at Margaritaville and could put charges at Margaritaville on their Silver Sands Resort room bill.<\/p>\n
In response to questions about the traffic issues raised at Monday\u2019s hearing, Torgerson said \u201cPrimo has a 20-foot right of way, but actually only about 16 feet of it is paved for roadway. We are providing the Town an additional 5 feet from our property to expand the right of way to 25 feet. In doing so, that provides the Town the opportunity to improve the issues of concern. The only concerns that have been voiced, although significant, are in the narrow roadway. Our contribution of property will allow for a 16-foot wide street to widen to as much as 25-feet if that is what is desired. Additionally we have removed many ingress\/egress points that were existing previously with Silver Sands on both Estero Boulevard right at the Primo intersection interested as well as on Primo.\u201d<\/p>\n
Paul Swenson, who lives on Primo Drive, said \u201cwe are beside ourselves\u201d that the town may approve the project. <\/p>\n
Swenson said the pedestrian barriers would only serve to keep pedestrians at their businesses.<\/p>\n
Swenson said getting out of Primo Drive onto Estero Boulevard was \u201calready a pain\u201d due to the high-traffic volume which can grind to a standstill in the middle of the winter.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am shocked the town would approve a 60-unit hotel on that property,\u201d Swenson said. He said the property is only zoned to allow about one-third of the units that TPI is seeking.<\/p>\n
The town\u2019s planning consultant has said only 18 hotel units could be built on the property by right.<\/p>\n
Swenson said the new hotel would to traffic woes emanating from deliveries to The Whale. \u201c<\/p>\n
TPI acquired the Silver Sands property on Estero Boulevard in 2023 for $7.1 million, months after the cottages on site were destroyed by Hurricane Ian. There were 22 cottages and a pool at Silver Sands before Hurricane Ian, with the property dating back to the 1920\u2019s. <\/p>\n
TPI initially announced plans to build a resort on the lot but a year after purchasing the .74 acre lot at 1207 Estero Boulevard, TPI-FMB put the land up for sale, asking $9.9 million. The property was still listed for sale as of last month, though Torgerson said it is no longer for sale.<\/p>\n
\u201cGuests will have access to every amenity at Margaritaville, the gym and wellness classes, the beach club, the chairs on the beach, the spa, all restaurants and bars, be able to make all Margaritaville charges to their Silver Sands room, etc.,\u201d Torgerson said in an email.<\/p>\n
The Silver Sands property is currently being used as an office for the Lee County Sheriff\u2019s Office, as well as for parking for employees of Margaritaville Beach Resort.<\/p>\n
The property is located at the busy intersection of Estero Boulevard and Primo Drive. On the other side of Primo Drive facing Estero Boulevard, is The Whale.<\/p>\n
On the issue of parking, Torgerson said on Monday after the hearing that \u201cWe have proved out at Margaritaville that our overnight guests parking demand does not exceed 80% of booked rooms. So with full occupancy at One Particular Harbour, that equates to 48 parking stalls. The balance of stalls will be made available for the retail\/service commercial space at ground level on Estero.\u201d<\/p>\n
Torgerson said that once construction begins, the Lee County Sheriff\u2019s Office space on the property will move to the former Seafarers property next to the Margaritaville Beach Resort, and be part of the bike\/scooter\/cart parking lot the county is planning to construct there.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are working on recapitalizing Margaritaville and wrapping One Particular Harbour into it and that will generate the funding to finance construction. If approved September 9, will move immediately into Development Order, construction plans and permitting,\u201d Torgerson said.<\/p>\n
Gore said she and others remain frustrated by the lack of understanding they believe members of the Town of Fort Myers Beach Council has shown for the concerns of those worried about commercial development intruding on residential neighborhoods.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s just too big for that corner,\u201d Gore said. \u201cThis Council has no idea about what we have been trying to protect for 30 years.\u201d<\/p>\n
Gore said \u201cwe have been trying to save this island and the small-town character and charm of this island.\u201d Gore said \u201cthe people of this island, we have lost. It\u2019s changing and this council they have no idea about what we have been trying to protect for 30 years.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The proposal by TPI to build a six-story hotel on the site of the former Silver Sands Resort…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":363177,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[209,211,210],"class_list":["post-373284","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-cape-coral","tag-cape-coral","tag-cape-coral-headlines","tag-cape-coral-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/373284","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=373284"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/373284\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/363177"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=373284"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=373284"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=373284"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}