Council moves Arches Bayfront Resort rezoning, comp‑plan amendment to second reading after heavy public comment

Fort Myers Beach — The Town Council on Monday voted unanimously to send a developer‑backed rezoning and a companion small‑scale comprehensive plan amendment for the Arches Bayfront Resort to a second reading, but the council and residents alike left the hearing with a long list of outstanding issues to resolve including drainage, traffic routing and details of promised public benefits.

The project, brought by Freeland Bridal Holdings, would combine ten parcels near Old San Carlos Boulevard and Third Street into a single Commercial Planned Development and change seven parcels’ future land use from Marina and Mixed Residential to Pedestrian Commercial. The developer’s master plan calls for mixed uses, a waterfront promenade, a ferry terminal, roughly 263 lodging units (by equivalency), restaurants, retail and an expanded recreational marina with shore‑side public access.

The case: The Local Planning Agency unanimously recommended approval on April 8, but staff’s written recommendation urged denial of the comprehensive plan amendment, saying the map change “is not clearly in the…