Downtown issues draft report to be reviewed
Issues still need resolving related to appropriate funding tools, land uses and intensity for redevelopment in the downtown zoning district as Town officials are trying to position themselves to have better control over such future development.
The Downtown Ad Hoc Committee has been meeting since mid-November to go over such issues and traffic pattern solutions. Last Wednesday, the five members agreed to review a draft report of the majority opinion on several issues to be written by Chairman Hank Zuba to solidify their findings and recommendations. That review will be held in Council Chambers on Tuesday, Feb. 24, at 3 p.m.
Last month, the committee decided that a CRA would not be the best mechanism to go forward within the downtown zoning district, and decided to look into other special taxing district measures, such as Municipal Services Taxing Units or Municipal Service Benefit Unit, as a tax levy method to work as a funding solution.
“We think the CRA/Tif district which was in existence has little possibility of being resurrected,” said Zuba. “The Bonita type agreement with the county on revenue sharing for any new development would be worth examining for us.
Discussions have centered on potential development at the Seafarer’s and Helmerich (Plaza) locations, what has been called “strategically important” property on Estero Island.
Downtown Ad Hoc members have also been discussing possible transfer of density rights from the hotels across the street that were destroyed by Hurricane Charley. It is unclear if those rights are still valid.
Trade-offs are expected between Town officials and potential developers involved in site reconstruction at the foot of Fort Myers Beach. A multi-tier parking garage has been discussed, but Town officials may want more.
Zuba expressed thoughts on improving Beach traffic, including the consideration of roundabouts, a pedestrian crossover from any potential development at Seafarer/Helmerich to the trolley stop at Times Square and possibly the bridge sidewalk as well as a transit facility involving a monorail.
“This is all trying to positions our minds and attitudes toward trying to get something better than a two-story parking garage,” he said. “The majority (of the committee members) favor a garage and some additional development on top of the structure in order to allow for a pedestrian overpass and to maximize the use of key sites downtown.”
After the report is written and reviewed, it will be presented to the Fort Myers Beach Town Council. If recommendations are approved by Council, they would involve possible changes to the Town Comprehensive Plan. The Local Planning Agency is simultaneously considering revisions in that document in its meetings during a state-dictated review that is necessary every five years.
Mayor Anita Cereceda, the committee’s liaison to Council, agreed. Timing is important.
“It’s not enough to just have a box for the prime location, the front door of the Town of Fort Myers Beach,” she said. “It needs something more. The time is now to do something.”
Committee member Tracey Gore, who lives in the downtown zoning district, stated she is “strongly opposed to bringing in more density and impact” at the corner of Estero Boulevard and Crescent Street, but not against development or progress.
“I do feel strongly we need to follow our Comp Plan,” she said. “We incorporated to make sure this island didn’t become a resort town, so even though we are a vacation destination, we are still a family island full of residents with a sense of community. I want to preserve that. I understand that FEMA may mandate that some areas have to build higher, but that doesn’t mean they get more density.”
On traffic pattern issues, she is curious if transportation impact fees can be used for roadway construction at the foot of the bridge. Roundabouts have been brought up.
“We need to come up with a focus on what we want to do with transportation, period,” said committee member John Pohland.
The group has been tasked to discuss policies that may involve economic development, island re-development, FEMA implications, transfer of development rights factors and possible traffic solutions linked to any prior site reconstruction at Seafarer’s and Helmerich plazas.