Council approves permission to advertise annexation and rezoning near Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard

The City of Fort Myers Council on May 5 approved permission to advertise an ordinance to voluntarily annex a 0.15-acre tract located at 4561–4569 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and approved permission to advertise a related rezoning ordinance.

City Attorney Grant Alley read the title of the annexation ordinance and the rezoning ordinance for the record. The annexation item was presented as a quasi-judicial matter; Planning Manager Nicole DeVaughn said there was no financial remuneration associated with the item and the applicant, represented by Terry Kramer, did not request to make a presentation.

Council approved the permission to advertise the rezoning ordinance (rezoning 6.7 acres to heavy industrial in the area north of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard) and the annexation ordinance; the matters will return for public hearing at a future meeting. One councilmember raised concerns that converting light-industrial or county-zoned parcels to heavy industrial near the Dunbar community could run counter to long-term goals of removing heavy industrial uses from neighborhoods; staff and councilmembers noted the permission-to-advertise vote does not itself change zoning and that the public hearing will provide a forum for comment and more detailed review.

Council also approved a resolution electing to assume fire and rescue service responsibilities for the annexed 0.15-acre parcel, which ensures city fire services will cover the property if the annexation is finalized.

The council's votes at the May 5 meeting authorize staff to advance the annexation and rezoning through formal public-hearing processes and to return with full public-record hearings, at which time affected residents and stakeholders will have additional opportunities to comment.