Fort Myers Beach officials have firmly rejected the proposal for a 17-story condominium project on the former Red Coconut RV Resort site. This decision stemmed from extensive discussions that spanned many months, bringing together various voices from local residents and developers alike.
WATCH AS FORT MYERS BEACH COMMUNITY CORRESPONDENT, ANVAR RUZIEV, FOLLOWS THE STORY CLOSELY:
Fort Myers Beach officials deny proposal for 17-Story condominium project
This recent ruling by the Local Planning Agency halted the project in its tracks.
The plan, spearheaded by Seagate Development Group, envisioned two towering buildings, each standing 17 stories high and housing a total of 137 condominiums. Each unit was designed to offer ample living space, averaging about 3,000 square feet.
In an effort to win over the community, developers proposed to include three acres of public amenities—parks, a restaurant, and various recreational spaces—yet these offerings proved insufficient to sway the decision-making body.
Alex King, a realtor deeply familiar with the Fort Myers Beach area, spoke passionately at the meeting. He noted that the landscape of the island has shifted dramatically since the recent hurricanes, as have the needs of potential buyers.
“What we’re seeing across the board is that everyone wants a 4-bedroom home,” he remarked, capturing the sentiments of a community in flux.
King’s insights reveal an unsettling truth: he anticipates that nearly 70% of long-time Fort Myers Beach residents may choose to relocate after the storms. New arrivals, he argues, possess distinct expectations. “We have to think about what we’re creating here on the island, who we’re creating it for, and those people have different needs versus the folks that bought the homes in 1972,” he expressed.
Long-time residents, Pete and Donna Oiderma, voiced their apprehensions regarding the proposed development. Living just a few homes away for nearly twenty years, they fondly reminisced about friendships formed with visitors at the Red Coconut during its RV days. While they don’t oppose new developments outright, they firmly believe that honoring the town’s land development code is paramount.
“They should stick to the original code. Everyone is putting in requests for all these deviations, and I think we should keep this a small town, you know, a family place,” Pete expressed thoughtfully. Donna echoed these sentiments, adding, “If they let 15 stories go up here, the owner of Margaritaville is going to be really upset. They stuck with the code, and everybody should.”
Tourist Jimbo Diaz shared his perspective, highlighting the unique blend of tranquility and vibrancy that defines Fort Myers Beach. His voice rang out, “I love it down here, great people. But to build something like that? Sure, it’s good for the economy, raising some taxes, but I don’t think they should build that big,” he said, clearly torn between growth and preservation.
The CEO of Seagate Development Group previously noted that adhering strictly to code is nearly impossible from a developer’s standpoint. Despite the promises of enhanced public amenities, the Local Planning Agency ultimately deemed the proposal unfit for the community’s landscape.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE:
Plans submitted for high-rise condos at former Red Coconut RV Resort site
17-STORY CONDO: Heated debate over proposed high-rise on Fort Myers Beach
