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Board denies certificate for Goodbread building after debate over facade and costs (3-2)
Summary
The Planning and Zoning Board voted 3-2 to deny a certificate of appropriateness for the Goodbread grocery building at 27300 Old 41 Road after debate over its condition, loss of grant eligibility due to relocation, and whether to preserve the remaining facade.
The Bonita Springs Planning and Zoning Board voted 3-2 to deny a certificate of appropriateness for the Goodbread grocery building at 27300 Old 41 Road, a decision that clears the way for the city to pursue demolition consistent with council direction.
Staff said the building had been relocated from its original corner location and that engineers found much of the interior dilapidated, leaving primarily a facade. Mike Fegan of Community Development said the relocation meant the structure lost eligibility for some state grant funding and that the amount of work required to make the interior usable would be substantial — in his words, restoring the building would be “essentially a full scale … new building.”
Attorney and staff comments: the board’s attorney noted that when the building was relocated it was intended to be preserved but that the city later became the steward and there are no current plans or private interest to rehabilitate it. The attorney argued that delaying a decision would not change the fact there are no plans and no private funds to restore the structure.
Board debate centered on whether to deny the certificate outright or delay to seek options for keeping the facade. One board member favored shoring and beautifying the facade as a monument rather than rebuilding an interior. Another member urged delay to exhaust every preservation option unless the structure presented an imminent safety hazard.
A motion to deny the certificate of appropriateness was made and seconded; after roll-call the measure passed 3-2. Members in the majority cited council direction, repeated structural concerns in facility reports and the absence of viable private proposals. Dissenting members said preserving the facade as a monument could balance historic character with redevelopment.
Next steps: with the board’s advisory denial, staff will proceed consistent with council instruction and applicable city demolition and permitting procedures. The record of the board’s discussion will be available in the meeting minutes.
