Town of Fort Myers Beach Council sends DiamondHead Beach Resort expansion project back to LPA after site plan changes

The Town of Fort Myers Beach Council voted on Monday to remand the DiamondHead Beach Resort expansion proposal back to the Fort Myers Beach Local Planning Agency (LPA), following a change in the plans that removed a proposed tower from the project. The resort’s owners are looking to add 55 rooms, which they are now seeking to attach to the existing building, rather than build a new tower. The Local Planning Agency (LPA) is scheduled to hear the updated plans on Nov. 10. The LPA had voted against the original plan.

The expansion would bring the total number of rooms at the resort to 176. The DiamondHead Beach Resort, a beachfront hotel at 2000 Estero Boulevard, is located next to Surf Song Condominium Association. Surf Song owners had opposed the original plans and had legal counsel at Monday’s hearing.

Voting to send the project back to the LPA was Councilmembers Rebecca Link and John McLean, with Councilmember John King voting against the delay. Not voting were Mayor Dan Allers and Vice Mayor Scott Safford, who filed conflict of resolution forms ahead of the meeting. Though neither publicly stated their conflict of interest at the meeting, Safford filed a form citing the work his wife Jacki Liszak does as president of the Fort Myers Beach Chamber of Commerce in organizing the annual American Sand Sculpture Championship at the DiamondHead Beach Resort.

Town Attorney Nancy Stuparich said she was still looking into whether Safford actually had a conflict of interest, due to the conflict involving his spouse

Allers runs a golf cart business and cited in his recusal form an ongoing business arrangement with DiamondHead Beach Resort for golf rentals.

McLean said he believed the project should go back to the LPA due to the updated renderings and drawings, along with objections raised by Surf Song in the last week following the changes presented.

Link said she was still receiving emails this morning from neighbors regarding the project. Link said at a minimum she felt town staff needed more time to review the changes.

Last week, DiamondHead Beach Resort General Manager Neil Hopgood said the new plans eliminate the tower that was proposed, and instead add on the rooms into the east and west sides of the existing building. Neighbors had expressed opposition to the originally proposed tower at a Local Planning Agency meeting, over its block of views. The LPA voted against recommending approval of the plans last month.

In a statement issued last week, Hopgood said “In response to the thoughtful feedback received from the LPA, Timeshare Owners, and members of the surrounding community, we have taken a fresh look at our proposed plans and reconfigured the design to address the concerns that were raised.”

Hopgood said the updated plan “represents a meaningful step forward–addressing the concerns that have been raised while allowing DiamondHead to continue investing in and enhancing the property, introducing additional amenities, and maintaining our ability to remain competitive in the market.”

The Nov. 10 LPA meeting could potentially have a new board as Chair Anita Cereceda and board member Ed Schoonover are running for a seat on the Town of Fort Myers Beach Council. The Town of Fort Myers Beach Council will have a new makeup regardless, with King and McLean opting not to run for re-election.