Board recommends rezoning for Hickory On The Bay waterfront plan; asks staff and applicant to explore landscaping alternative to proposed courtyard wall

The Bonita Springs zoning board recommended approval of a rezoning for the Hickory On The Bay project, a 5.07-acre property proposed for a commercial plan development that would allow a waterfront restaurant, retail uses, one drive-through, and up to six multifamily dwelling units. The board approved the rezoning with revised staff conditions and directed staff and the applicant to work together before the city council hearing to consider an alternative landscaping approach in place of a proposed courtyard wall required by the overlay setback standard.

Applicant representatives, including attorney Rich Yovanovitch and owner Tracy Kautzman, presented a history of the family’s Big Hickory Waterfront Grill (formerly on Little Hickory Island), which was damaged by Hurricane Ian. They said the family bought the 5.07-acre site as a waterfront replacement location. Planner Bob Mulhare and other consultants described the master concept plan: roughly 23,717 square feet of commercial uses shown on the master plan (the applicant initially requested up to 25,500 square feet but said the master concept plan governs unless a future transportation analysis supports the larger amount); up to…