Fort Myers Beach council approves expanded CPD for Lighthouse Island Resort, approves higher unit count and deviations

The Fort Myers Beach Town Council approved two related land-use ordinances on Monday allowing Lighthouse Island Resort to expand its Commercial Planned Development boundary and amend its master concept plan to increase lodging from 75 to 130 units and request multiple deviations from the town's land development code.

The council’s approvals let the applicant add 1060 Third Street to the existing CPD and amend the master concept plan to increase hotel units, change internal uses and request 11 deviations, including a request for a 58% reduction in required on-site parking. The council approved the boundary expansion (Ordinance 25-10) and the CPD amendment (Ordinance 25-11). Both motions passed with four votes in favor and one abstention (Mary Alice), 4–0.

Why the council acted: town planning staff recommended approval of the boundary expansion and said the CPD amendment is “consistent with the Fort Myers Beach comprehensive plan.” Judith Frankel, community development, told the council the parcels are in the pedestrian commercial future land‑use category and staff finds the proposed changes meet the criteria in the land development code.

Key details and debate - Uses and density: The existing CPD allowed 75 lodging units; the applicant asked to increase that to 130 units with a relocated restaurant/bar and reduced retail accessory space (from 5,000 sf to 500 sf). Judith Frankel noted the CPD amendment remains consistent with the comprehensive plan and the area’s pedestrian commercial intent. - Deviations: The applicant requested relief on 11 items, including allowing under‑building parking to be excluded from FAR, increased building height (up to 40 feet 5 inches above base flood elevation in parts), reduced street setbacks, larger mural‑style signage, and a 58% reduction in required parking (proposed 82 on‑site spaces). Frankel said staff supports the deviations except for the parking reduction, where she asked the council to weigh appropriateness; staff suggested a minimum of one space per room (130) would better accommodate guests and employees. - Applicant position: Megan Strayhorn, legal counsel for the applicant, said the project team and staff had made minor edits to conditions and that the team was “comfortable with providing the 82 parking spaces and do request that deviation.” - Council review: Councilors asked about how many rooms would be allowed by right (Frankel said without a CPD amendment they would not be allowed more than the previously approved 75) and about prior approvals and equivalency factors used to calculate allowable density.

What the council decided and next steps The council approved both the CPD boundary expansion and the CPD amendment with conditions. Each ordinance passed on the second reading with motions and recorded votes (motioners, seconders and vote tallies are listed below). Staff and the applicant will finalize minor wording edits to the conditions of approval and proceed to the local development order stage where detailed plans and elevations will be required.

Ending note The council’s approvals allow the resort to consolidate operations under a single CPD and proceed with the amended master plan, but the substantial parking deviation remains a matter the council discussed in detail; the final project will have to satisfy the conditions added to the ordinances and move through the development‑order review process.