Fort Myers Beach council approves CPD boundary expansion and clears mobile vendor park with strict conditions after contentious public debate

The Fort Myers Beach Town Council voted unanimously April 7 to expand the commercially planned development (CPD) boundary on Estero Boulevard and to approve a companion CPD ordinance allowing a mobile vendor (food truck) park, after hours of testimony from residents, property owners and attorneys on both sides.

The council’s actions authorize an expanded CPD boundary that adds two parcels to an existing CPD; councilors also approved a separate ordinance that sets the allowed uses, performance conditions and operational limits for a proposed mobile vendor park on parcels including 2510 and 2518 Estero Boulevard and 2543 Cottage Avenue.

Why it mattered: The two votes together enable the developer’s plan to operate a permanent, managed site for mobile vendors and a permanent support structure (service building and restrooms) near long-standing residential buildings. Neighbors and the Pelican Watch condominium association argued the use is incompatible with adjacent homes and will harm property values, while the applicant and staff argued the proposal complies with the comprehensive plan and land‑development code when implemented with conditions.

Council and staff said the effort to separate the boundary-expansion vote from the use/conditions vote was meant to ensure the council considered the footprint of the CPD and the allowed uses as distinct decisions. Community Development Director Judith Frankel and town planning staff presented findings that the expanded boundary met the criteria in the land development code and comprehensive plan; she told the council the Local Planning Agency unanimously recommended approval at its January hearing.

Public testimony: More than a dozen residents, property owners and attorneys spoke at the…