Residents urge council to keep 21-acre Treeline site as light industrial; hearings continued

Residents urged the Fort Myers City Council on Nov. 3 to leave a 21-acre tract east of Treeline Avenue and north of Daniels Parkway designated as light industrial, saying a land-use change to allow more intensive commercial or residential uses would strain roads and water infrastructure.

Mike Fitzgerald, a Ward 6 resident, told the council the rezoning request repeats previous proposals and asked elected officials to “stop the Groundhog Cycle.” Bob McConaughey, another Ward 6 resident, warned of safety and congestion risks: “The developer's own traffic study for this project showed that 4 out of 5 levels of service immediately failed.” Several speakers noted the Planning Board rejected the amendment in August 2025 and urged the council not to override that recommendation without stronger mitigations.

City staff said notification issues required continuing the quasi-judicial hearings. The council voted to continue both related items (Ordinance Nos. 4072 and 4068) to the Nov. 17, 2025 regular meeting at about 5:15 p.m. in council chambers so the public-notice requirements can be met and additional review can occur.

Why it matters: Residents and advisory bodies raised consistent concerns about ingress and egress on Daniels Parkway and Treeline Boulevard, potential increases in traffic collisions, and whether water infrastructure can support higher-density development. Councilmembers said the continuance provides time for staff to address posting and notice errors and for the public to supply further input.