Fort Myers Beach LPA approves rebuild plans for The Salty Crab
The Salty Crab Bar & Grill, which was knocked down by Hurricane Ian in 2022, received unanimous approval from the Fort Myers Beach Local Planning Agency on Tuesday for their plans to rebuild. The project will still need approvals from the Town of Fort Myers Beach Council for a Commercial Planned Development rezoning.
The restaurant and bar, an iconic beachfront mainstay on the island, was located within just several feet of the Margaritaville Beach Resort on property adjacent to Crescent Beach Family Park.
The new restaurant will be built in the same location if approved by the Town of Fort Myers Beach Council. The Fort Myers Beach Local Planning Agency (LPA) swiftly endorsed the plans. The owners are targeting late 2026 for the completion of construction.
The owners, Greg Powers and Clownfish Restaurant Holdings, requested a Commercial Planned Development rezoning to rebuild the restaurant with two floors along with a ground-level ice cream shop and beachfront outdoor seating.
The rebuild requires deviations from town zoning for an increase in floor area ratio from 1.2 to 1.96, a decrease in the street setback from 10 feet to 0 feet, a decrease in the side setback from 20 feet to 0 feet and a reduction in parking requirements from 58 spaces to no spaces. The property, which has been used a restaurant for decades, did not previously have any parking for customers though under the new zoning they are requesting they would technically need the additional parking.
The property, which dates back to the 1950’s as a commercial restaurant use, had been grandfathered into the town’s zoning code.
Town planning staff recommended approval of the zoning change and deviation requests.
Fort Myers Beach Local Planning Agency Chair Anita Cereceda questioned the gray color of the structure, with renderings showing a largely gray building. The developer’s planner said the building would be gray with a blue tone.
The LPA requested that Lee County work with the Town of Fort Myers Beach and the property owner to provide an accommodation on the Crescent Beach Family Park property to allow for parking that The Salty Crab can use for pickups and deliveries as was done before Hurricane Ian.
The ownership group has been in touch with the county regarding plans the county has been working on to redevelop Crescent Beach Family Park, which could include restrooms or a bus stop where the ownership group wants to use space for a dropoff location for deliveries off Estero Boulevard.