Lighthouse Resort gets approval from town council to expand
Hotel owners granted 58% reduction parking requirements over objections of town planning staff
The Town of Fort Myers Beach Council quickly approved the expansion of the Lighthouse Resort from 75 rooms to 130 rooms with 11 deviations from the town’s zoning code today. The approval includes deviations from town code to increase the height to four stories and 40.5 feet, and a 58% reduction from the town’s parking requirements which will allow the hotel to have 82 on-site vehicle parking spaces. The resort is the closest hotel to the Matanzas Pass Bridge.
Town planning staff had previously expressed concerns for the parking plans of the resort, recommending 130 parking spaces but the developers nor the town council sought to amend the parking plans. Town planning staff wanted one parking space on-site for each resort room.
Despite the concerns from planning staff over the amount of parking, town councilmembers had no comments on the parking situation during the town council meeting. There was no discussion about the recommendations of the town’s planning staff to require 130 parking spaces for 130 rooms.
The 82 on-site parking spaces will actually be a reduction from the 93 on-site spaces currently at the resort. The resort’s developers in their application also noted seven off-site parking spaces, but those are public parking spaces operated by the town.
The Lighthouse Resort is offering to also provide eight golf cart spaces and two bicycle spaces. “It is unlikely that hotel guests will travel to the resort by golf cart or bicycle although they may utilize them while visiting,” town planning staff said in its commentary on the proposal.
Following Monday’s town council meeting, several councilmembers responded to questions regarding the parking deviation that was approved.
Town of Fort Myers Beach Councilmember John King explained his decision regarding the parking issue as one that he believes should be in the hands of private businesses.
“I believe businesses know best the amount of parking they need to be successful,” King said. “In addition there is other area parking and different ways to avoid bringing automobiles to the island.”
Councilmember Scott Safford, who has been vocal about his opposition to town parking requirements for businesses and development, said “I am for letting the resorts and restaurants tailor parking to their needs and am encouraging smarter alternatives. I really think our parking requirements are too much, especially in the downtown area.”
Fort Myers Beach Vice Mayor Jim Atterholt said after Monday’s town council meeting that he wants the town’s parking regulations to be changed in order to not encourage hotel guests to use a car on the island.
“The Town’s parking formulas need to change as more folks rely on various ride services. I have authored a number of “Don’t Rent a Car” (DRAC) provisions, including one for the Lighthouse, where hotels are encouraged to offer guests incentives to not rent a car from the airport when they are visiting our island,” Atterholt said following Monday’s vote. “The central location of the Lighthouse Resort is also a factor as guests have the ability to walk or bike almost everywhere without having to get in a car.”
It’s not clear where the remaining 48 guests not covered by the resort’s parking spaces would be able to park their vehicles overnight if the rooms were sold out or where overflow guests would park once more than 82 rooms are sold. While there are private parking lots and town public parking lots that charge anywhere from $4 an hour to $30 or $40 for the day depending on the season, there is no overnight parking at those lots.
The plans also don’t indicate where resort employees will be expected to park if the resort’s parking spaces are filled up by guests.
Under the current town zoning, the resort would not have been able to construct any new hotel rooms without an amendment to the Commercial Planned Zoning ordinance that the town originally approved in 1999.
The developers do not expect to begin construction on the new rooms for another three years. The project also includes a new building.
The resort was represented by The Neighborhood Company, the planning firm headed by former Local Planning Agency member Patrick Vannase. The firm has recently secured approvals for commercial projects in town such as Arches Bayfront and a food truck park. Last year, the planning firm also won approval for the Myerside Resort project across from the Fort Myers Beach Elementary School.