Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Owner Builder Extension topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council lets owner-builder keep lot after $1,000 bond, six-month permit condition
Summary
After debate over unpaid liens and a permit on hold, Fort Myers council rescinded a termination and approved a compromise allowing Michael Love to build if he posts a $1,000 bond and begins construction within six months of permit issuance.
Fort Myers council voted on Jan. 5 to allow property owner Michael Love additional time to begin construction on a lot tied to an owner-builder affordable housing agreement — provided he posts a $1,000 bond and starts work within six months of permit issuance.
The action came during consideration of Resolution 2026-1, which would have terminated the agreement for the property at 2643 Laramie Street. City staff said the permit application was on hold and noted an outstanding code lien of about $485; the city also confirmed Mr. Love recently paid back taxes. Love told the council he had paid survey and design costs and obtained a demolition estimate of $88,400.
Councilmember O’Shea led questioning about whether Love had financing. Love said he was “consulting a financial company” that had agreed to fund the build and offered to provide a financing letter. After discussion about prior extensions and the city’s goals for owner-builder lots, Councilmember Burson proposed that Love provide a short-term guarantee or a bond to ensure construction starts. Community Development Director Steve Belding recommended a $1,000 bond to be released after the first successful inspection.
Councilmember Burson moved to require the $1,000 bond and a six-month window tied to issuance of the building permit; the motion passed after a roll call vote. The clerk recorded yes votes from Councilmembers Watson, Beauchetta, Brown and Mayor Anderson and no votes from Burson and Banc (see meeting roll call). The motion text specified the bond would be released after the first inspection; failure to start construction within the six-month window would forfeit the bond and allow the city to reclaim the lot for its affordable-housing inventory.
The council’s action converted what began as a termination item into a conditional extension tied to verifiable proof of progress. “I accept that and I will not fight it,” Love said after the motion passed, acknowledging the council’s conditions.
