Council approves home‑rule development agreement to rebuild Beach Baptist and allow 12 homes

Vice Mayor Aderholt moved and Councilor Safford seconded the approval of Ordinance 25‑17, the second reading and final public hearing on a home‑rule development agreement for 110–138 Connecticut Street owned by First Baptist Church of Fort Myers Inc. The council voted unanimously to adopt the ordinance.

The agreement authorizes redevelopment of two parcels: a 1.1‑acre parcel for a church facility and a roughly 2‑acre parcel to be rezoned and developed with 12 single‑family homes. The applicant told the council it demolished two trailers on the site and paid outstanding water bills prior to the hearing. Staff and the applicant reported they reduced the number of requested deviations from five to three by changing the site plan, including increasing a previously smaller side‑yard separation to 13…