Mound House off-site parking to be rezoned
An ordinance to rezone the property at 216 Connecticut St. for the exclusive use of the cultural and environmental learning center at the end of the street and a special exception to allow a parking lot within that zoning change has been approved.
On Monday evening, the Fort Myers Beach Town Council unanimously approved the rezoning of the Town-owned lot to Community Facilities during the second and final hearing on the matter. This comes after the Town Local Planning Agency also unanimously recommended the rezoning in mid-August.
Mound House is set to open fully later this fall as a museum facility. A grand opening will involve a VIP private reception as an evening occasion on Friday, Nov. 13, and the public “party” to occur on Saturday, Nov. 14.
“We have finally completed the development of the Mound House property for utilization as a historical, archaeological, ecological and recreational site. This combination development is both unique and rare, which marks the Mound House as a valuable, precious asset to our Town,” said former Beach Mayor Dan Hughes, who had been instrumental in acquisition of Mound House in 2000 and the parcel at 216 Connecticut St. in 2003. “The Mound House and this parking facility will be preserved and dedicated for public use and perpetuity.”
The parking lot will be developed in accordance with the Town Master Concept Plan with conditions, according to Town Principal Planner Matt Noble. Conditions involve a limited maximum number of 27 parking spaces; restricted lighting to the lot entrance only, if desirable; limited operational hours from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., and an alternative landscape betterment plan submitted and approved as part of the development order.
Town officials are expected to seek Lee County Tourist Development Council dollars for construction of the off-site lot. In the past, Florida Communities Trust has provided grant funding for Mound House based on adequate parking. There are only seven places for public parking on Mound House property.
Master Concept Plan details for the off-site lot involve a gate for the fenced-in lot area, one that will be locked after operational hours. The lot is designed to have turn-around areas as well as native plantings and will be patrolled by Beach and Street Enforcement during operational hours.
In the past, turning the empty lot into a parking lot has been met with resistance from Connecticut Street residents. Beach Mayor Anita Cereceda called a neighborhood meeting several months ago and pitched a passive park with buffered vegetation. She was met with hostility towards the project and was told it would disrupt the residential neighborhood.
On Monday, she stated she received a call from a resident that attended the neighborhood meeting who thanked her for the change in zoning.
Cultural and Environmental Learning Center Advisory Board Chairwoman Barbara Hill stated projections from 2009 included annual visitation to Mound House at approximately 22,000 people or 140 people per day.
A sidewalk down Connecticut Street that has been approved by the Lee County Metropolitan Planning Organization is expected to be constructed in 2020. While construction is five years away, the sidewalk would provide safety for those walking from the lot to the Mound House in the future.