Fort Myers Beach LPA approves Estero Island Beach Club rebuild plans, rezoning
The Town of Fort Myers Beach Local Planning Agency has given approval to the new plans for the rebuild of the Estero Island Beach Club. The Town of Fort Myers Beach Council will still have to approve the plans. The original plans had been rejected by the Town of Fort Myers Beach Council last year.
The new plans call for a Commercial Planned Development rezoning of the property at 1836 Estero Boulevard, which includes four deviations from the town’s Land Development Code.
Among the deviations are a height deviation to allow the rebuild of the timeshare development to be five stories, and 18 feet higher than is allowed by code. Under the current code, they are allowed to build 30 feet above base flood elevation, which will be 48 feet above elevation. That will bring the height of the building to 68 feet above the ground, town planner Jason Smalley said.
The town council rejected the previous plans in October, which called for 10 stories.
The new 98,000 square-feet building will have 75 multi-family timeshare units, the same number of units as before. There will be 91 parking spaces, which is more parking units than existed before.
Town staff recommended approval of the new plans, which includes a reduction in the floor area ratio.
The original buildings were demolished due to damage from Hurricane Ian.
The Estero Island Beach Club property is located near the DiamondHead Beach Resort.