Council approves variance to allow 15-foot setback for single-family home at 26409 Bay Road

Bonita Springs, Fla. — The Bonita Springs City Council on second reading approved a variance to allow a 15‑foot setback from the North Side street right‑of‑way and boat‑ramp area for a single‑family home at 26409 Bay Road on Little Hickory Island. The council voted in favor after staff described the lot as undersized and noted a 1990 county variance that previously provided setback relief for this parcel.

The request, read into the record at the meeting, seeks relief from the city’s land‑development code requirement of a 25‑foot setback along the property’s north side to allow new construction on an older, undersized lot. Mike Feegun of Community Development summarized the parcel’s history and said the proposed design only requests relief on the north side, where a boat ramp and street setback had sharply reduced the buildable area.

The item had unanimous support from the local zoning board (listed by staff as a 7–0 vote in May) and had no objections at the council’s first reading. The council conducted a second‑reading public hearing; no members of the public spoke on the item and the motion carried on roll call with council members voting aye and Mayor Gibson confirming an affirmative remote vote.

Why this matters: The parcel predates current county and city zoning and sits within a development pattern on Little Hickory Island that staff said justifies limited setback relief to allow compatible infill construction.

The council’s approval amends the zoning approval for this property; the ordinance includes an effective date. No additional conditions or amendments were recorded during the meeting.

Speakers quoted or recorded on this item appeared in the council roll call and Community Development presentation.