London Bay seeks August hearing with Town Council
London Bay Development Group is seeking an August hearing in front of the Town of Fort Myers Beach Council for the firm’s proposed redevelopment of the Outrigger Beach Resort.
The company, whose plans for the former hotel site were rejected by the Town of Fort Myers Beach Local Planning Agency earlier this month, was initially expected to go in front of the council on June.
The developers made a request through the Town Clerk’s office last week for the new dates.
“I can confirm that London Bay will not be on the Town Council’s agenda in June,” Fort Myers Beach Manager Will McKannay said in response to questions regarding the scheduling. “They requested to defer consideration of the Outrigger project proposal and instead appear before the Council in August.”
McKannay said Fort Myers Beach Community Development Director Frank Kropacek approved the request from London Bay to postpone the hearing until August after the two consulted on the request.
A precise date for London Bay’s hearing is expected to be discussed at the council’s next meeting on Monday.
“Rather than immediately assigning a new date, I plan to discuss potential August scheduling at the June 1 Council meeting,” McKannay said. “This will allow us to coordinate appropriately with other projects that may already be in progress or anticipated for Council agendas in August.”
The Fort Myers Beach Local Planning Agency voted 5-2 earlier this month to deny a proposed comprehensive plan amendment proposed by London Bay Development Group to construct a multi-tower hotel and condo project on the site of the former Outrigger Beach Resort. The project brought significant community opposition from neighbors. Board members cited the project’s height and density, along with the concerns of neighbors, in rejecting the plans.
The developers can still win approval for their project if town council votes to do so.
The original plans had been presented with a 15-story-high building reaching 195-feet-high, and a 12-story-high building for hotel rooms and condo units, along with other buildings.
The Naples-based developers then reduced the height of the tallest building by one floor, lowering the height from 195 feet to 158 feet, while adding a floor to the other building.
Town code limits height for buildings to three stories over one floor of parking on the beach side of Estero Boulevard. There would be 150 condo and hotel units, and 46 multi-family units, along with a 200-seat restaurant, tiki hut bar and a rooftop bar under the company’s proposals.
Following the failure of the comprehensive plan text amendment to pass, board member Doug Eckmann put forward a second proposal which would put the height of the tallest building at 175 feet but would lower the floor area ratio. That project failed on a 4-3 vote, with Eckmann joined by board members Jim Dunlap and Edward Schoonover in support of the alternative plan. Eckmann had voted against the plans on the first vote, while Dunlap and Schoonover had voted in favor of both plans. Voting against both proposals were Local Planning Agency Chair Anita Cereceda, Vice Chair Jane Plummer, James Boan and Don Sudduth.
Supporters of the plans have argued the project is needed to reinvigorate the restaurant scene on the southern side of Fort Myers Beach.
The former Outrigger Beach Resort, at 6200 Estero Boulevard, was damaged by Hurricane Ian and then demolished by London Bay after they acquired the property, and Charley’s Boat House and Grill across the street, for a combined $38.2 million in 2023. The Outrigger Beach Resot, an old Florida style resort, was one of the oldest and continuous hospitality resorts on Fort Myers Beach at the time of its demolition. Under a timeline outlined by London Bay CEO Mark Wilson, the earliest the project could be built out would be 2030 or 2031.
Fort Myers Beach Observer Editor Nathan Mayberg can be reached at NMayberg@breezenewspapers.com