Food truck park breaks ground
A year after winning approval from the Town of Fort Myers Beach Council to rezone their property for a Commercial Planned Development to construct a food truck park and beer garden, Jamie Hotka and Dan Myers have broken ground on their Estero Boulevard property with Stevens Construction.
The groundbreaking was for their Access 26 Family Food Truck park business located near the Pelican Watch building, across from the former Town of Fort Myers Beach Town Hall. The Access 26 name is for the town’s public beach access 26, which is nearby.
“We’re excited for the community,” Myers said at the groundbreaking ceremony. “I think we landed on a concept that everyone is going to enjoy. We are building something of high quality.”
Construction is set to begin on a two-story, 3,000-square-foot structure featuring a bar with covered seating, Manny’s Scoops ice cream shop and a retail area. The second floor will house storage, office space, restrooms, coolers, a freezer and a dumbwaiter system for transporting beer kegs and supplies. There is expected to be a beer garden with indoor and outdoor seating.
The project will also include a 569-square-foot comfort center with men’s and women’s restrooms, storage and three outdoor showers. Additional amenities include a curbside table rail, an artificial turf play area, three shade canvas structures, guest parking lot and beach access.
The Town of Fort Myers Beach Council unanimously approved the rezoning for the business last year. On Monday, Fort Myers Beach councilmembers attended the ceremony at the site, with Mayor Dan Allers speaking in support.
The Town of Fort Myers Beach still faces a lawsuit from David Tezak and Helen Tezak, property owners on the street, over the approvals Town Council gave for the project last year.
The Tezaks objected to the beer garden and alleged that the Town Council’s approval violated the town’s Comprehensive Plan by authorizing a land use that they alleged is not permitted by any existing Town ordinance. They alleged that the Town Council engaged in spot zoning by allowing the project.
The condo board of the Pelican Watch also raised objections to the plans at hearings last year.
The community pool of the Pelican Watch condo building is located just several feet away from a fence that divides their two lots, near where the food trucks will go.
Hotka and Myers noted that the lot was long used for a restaurant. Before Hurricane Charley in 2005, the Mucky Duck restaurant was located on the property.
Hotka said he envisions up to five food trucks operating at a time on the property. The project, located near Chapel Street, was approved for 39 parking spaces.
“The whole concept is to have a place for families to come,” Hotka said. Myers said there will be a play area for children. “We want it to be fun for the kids,” Hotka said.
The work is expected to be completed early next year. The Stevens Construction team includes Director of Preconstruction Nick Burkel and Estimator Evan Lopes. The project was designed by Studio AD Architecture. Additional consultants include JR Evans Engineering, AMG Design, Commercial Glass & Restaurant Supply and The Neighborhood Company.
The building’s mechanical equipment will be elevated above flood level. Metal flood panels and waterproof walls will help protect the building from storm surge and flooding, according to Priority Marketing, which is promoting the project. The foundation is also designed to allow water to flow through more easily during severe storms while meeting FEMA and Florida coastal floodplain requirements.
Hotka and Myers said the food trucks on site will be connected to underground utilities. There will be no propane tanks, Myers said.
Hotka used to have a home on the property that he lived in, before renting it out. That was destroyed by Hurricane Ian. He bought another home on Fort Myers Beach before Hurricane Ian, which was also destroyed by Hurricane Ian.
Hotka noted that the project will offer public restrooms and showers. “We want to be an asset” to the community, he said. Hotka said there will be seats near the edge of the property close to the sidewalks facing Estero Boulevard. Myers called it “Estero interactive.”