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Council approves Estero Island Beach Club CPD, adopts conditions after neighborhood concerns over Miramar parking and turnaround
Summary
The Fort Myers Beach Town Council approved a rezoning and four deviations for the Estero Island Beach Club redevelopment, with specific conditions requiring a town‑approved delivery/turnaround plan, MobiMat beach access and other public benefits while leaving the final Miramar parking plan to town staff.
The Town Council on Monday approved Ordinance 25‑13 to rezone the Estero Island Beach Club property to a Commercial Planned Development and granted four deviations related to operable doors, Ground‑Floor screening, build‑to setbacks and height. The council adopted a detailed Exhibit A of conditions the applicant agreed to provide as public benefits. The measure passed unanimously.
What staff and applicant presented Jason Smalley, senior planner, and applicant representatives explained the four deviations being requested and detailed a list of public benefits the applicant proposed, including a shaded seating area, sidewalk extension along Miramar Street that will be dedicated to the town, bike racks, a MobiMat for beach access and up to five right‑of‑way parking spaces at the end of Miramar (and a turnaround) to serve beach access.
Neighborhood concerns and council response Julian Roland, a Miramar Street resident, told council that Miramar is a narrow residential street and that adding roadside public parking and a turnaround could create constant traffic, safety problems and loss of neighborhood character. He proposed instead converting Miramar to a pedestrian corridor and argued five spaces would be insufficient and would encourage repeat vehicle trips searching for parking.
Council discussion and adopted changes Council members debated competing public benefits. Staff and the applicant were asked to preserve flexibility; language was modified to allow town staff and the town manager to determine final details of the Miramar parking count and configuration. The council added and approved conditions that: - Require the property owner to construct a delivery plan and drop‑off/turnaround for Beach Access 31, with the delivery plan to be approved by the town manager or designee prior to issuance of a local development order or occupancy. - Require the owner to install a MobiMat and cooperate to make the beach access ADA‑accessible; the MobiMat and ADA devices will be turned over to the town for maintenance. - Require the owner to provide shaded seating, bike racks, enhanced perimeter landscaping and to dedicate the new Miramar sidewalk to the town prior to certificate of occupancy.
Vote and next steps Councilor King moved the ordinance; Mayor Allen seconded. The motion passed unanimously. Staff will finalize language with the applicant to reflect the council’s direction and will administer the conditions during development‑order review.
Ending note The approval balanced neighborhood concerns about Miramar Street traffic with the applicant’s offer of park‑side public benefits and new beach accessibility infrastructure; the exact Miramar parking configuration will be determined by town staff with authority delegated to the town manager.
