Mantanza Point HOA asks Fort Myers Beach to accept Saint Peter's Drive; council directs staff to investigate

The homeowners association for Mantanza Point asked the Fort Myers Beach Town Council on April 21 to consider accepting ownership and jurisdiction of Saint Peter's Drive.

James Horn, who said he serves on the HOA board, told the council the road’s status is ambiguous: plats filed with Lee County show the subdivision and the roadway as privately intended and gated, but the town has maintained, repaved and repaired the street after storms and through a Tier 1 grant program. "Saint Peter's Drive has been continuously open to the public. The road and a right of way have been maintained previously by the town," Horn said.

Why it matters: If the road is public, accepting jurisdiction clarifies responsibilities for maintenance, drainage and future improvements; if it is private, the town is not obligated to assume ownership. Horn said the HOA voted to request the town accept the road and provided a handout showing the roadway and a planned gate turnaround.

Council action: The council directed the town attorney to work with Horn and town staff to research records and title evidence and to report back. The town attorney said the investigation should determine whether the town’s use and maintenance over time created a prescriptive easement or whether title conveyance (a quitclaim deed) would be the appropriate mechanism to clarify ownership.

Next steps: Town staff will research historic maintenance records, plat documents, county records and prior work completed under town grants and will report findings to the council at a future meeting.