On Monday, the Fort Myers Beach Town Council will open the first of two public hearings and consider a proposed Food Truck Entertainment Venue at 2500 and 2510 Estero Boulevard.
Earlier this month the LPA approved the proposal in a 4-3 vote, which included a lot of opposition from the nearby residential neighborhood.
The property, other than two residential lots being merged into the larger property, has been home to several restaurants dating back decades. It’s been mostly an empty lot since Hurricane Charlie other than the two homes (closer to Estero Boulevard) which were wiped out by Hurricane Ian.
Cottage Avenue is directly behind the property where the Food Truck Park could be built. The street is lined with homes being rebuilt after Hurricane Ian hammered them. At the end of Cottage Avenue is the Pelican Watch condo building which recently reopened after repairs were made to the building after Ian. The Pelican Watch condo pool is feet away from the main building being proposed for the Food Truck Park, separated by a white fence (see picture below).
Homeowners and condo owners behind the proposed project came out in opposition to the project at the LPA meeting. They voiced concerns about loud music, the smell of food and garbage, people parading through their neighborhood to use the public restrooms, traffic going up and down their street and drivers parking on their property. They are not opposed to redeveloping that land, they just believe an open air business like this one does not fit on that spot. They would be in favor of another completely closed in restaurant building.
Some LPA members struggled with whether this type of business was too intrusive on a residential neighborhood. Others believe that since the property is zoned commercial, it is on Estero Boulevard, and it does take into account the town’s goal of more walkable and bikeable businesses, it works.
The plan is to have 5 food truck pads, outdoor seating including right on Estero Boulevard, bike racks, restrooms open to the public during operating business hours (including showers), a paid parking lot with 45 spaces open to the public during operating business hours, a 2500 square foot 2-floor main building that serves beer and wine on the first floor with offices and storage on the 2nd floor. Live music will be in the main open structure which has three sides and faces Estero Boulevard to try to deflect the sound from the neighbors as much as possible.
The proposal includes a lot of new landscaping around the entire property to add a buffer to help protect the neighborhood. It will also include no parking signs and bollards to prevent illegal parking on Chapel Street and Cottage Avenue. About $8 million will be invested into the property.
If approved and built the park would be called Access 26 to coincide with the closeby beach access 26. There will be two public hearings on the proposal, the first on Monday and the second on Monday April 7th.
The LPA put restrictions on the project including hours of 7AM to 9PM and music ending at 8PM. They also want the restrooms locked down to prevent loitering after hours. It was also stipulated that the owners had to come in and report to the LPA about how they were following the conditions the LPA put into their approval, a requirement that has not been asked of any other business since we’ve been covering the LPA. That type of work is typically left in the hands of staff, not town boards. Of course, the Town Council can reject – or accept – all of the LPA’s conditions when they hold their own public hearings.
If approved by the Town Council the venue could be up and running in time for season next year. Debbie and Jamie Hotka own the property and Dan Myers would be the General Manager of the business if and when it opens.
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It’s commercial property right? If so, they should have every right to build anything it’s zoned for.
From what I’ve seen on every new proposed development in the past two years has met backlash from neighbors dreaming up all sorts of scenarios of people intruding on their property, obstructing their views, making noise, whatever.
This particular neighborhood has become spoiled since there hasn’t been a real business there since 2004 and no matter what you pitch at them they’re not gonna be happy.
As a business plan its solid and logical, easy for people to request plans that will fail and ultimately not get the local support it needs, not sure the location is favorable. I think to have assets that can be removed is essential until storm water issues are addressed and a major overhaul has concluded. Mobile or modular structures should be looked at as a solution to being able to do business on the ground. This will allow small entrepreneurs to come back, and have that small island feel vs multi million dollar temples everywhere, i think the idea of a food struck has to be elevated where they are moveable or towable yet have certain design elements that are more visually appealing. We need business owners smiling at visitors, its what built the islands charm, not people following Manuel’s on somebody’s else’s business plan.
Opposed. It is essentially a beer garden and customers will drink their “liquid courage” and climb over the fence into Pelican Watch pool and property.
Noise, terrible traffic congestion there and probable indecent exposure incidents PW residents and families will see from their balconies.
That’s pretty funny. But seriously this lot has been a commercial lot since before all of the houses and condos. Which came first? Chicken or the egg.
My husband and I have owned in Pelican Watch for over 40 years. Starting with Ye Olde Holmes Restaurant, and subsequent restaurants, all were on the corner of Estero Blvd. and Chapel Street, NOT 10 feet from Pelican Watch. Parking, starting with Ye Olde Holmes House, was in front of the restaurant on the Estero Blvd. side and along the north side. They did not have outside music nor did subsequent restaurants. And do you really think people are going to pay attention to No Parking signs on Cottage Street? The food truck park is a great concept, but not in that location. How would you like such a park ten feet from your property?
Only if they put in the Ferris wheel! Make it happen!
I’m not sure why nearby residents are worried about people parking on their property since Access 26 looks to have plenty of parking spots! I am for this development. Let’s get started!!!!
There are a couple of reasons that nearby residents are worried. In the past and even recently, people have consistently parked along Cottage Ave and Chapel streets to get to the beach. If the Paid Parking lot is full or people just don’t want to pay to park, residents of the Seagrape subdivision through experience know that people will just choose to park along the street or on their property.
I think it’s a great idea!
I’m a yes, looks like a well thought out needed addition to FMB .
I’m a yes on this.
Not a good idea, in my opinion – trash it! NIMBY
Everyone should come vacation on the newly renamed “Food Truck Island”!! It sits right on the soon to be food truck littered “Gulf of America”!! It’s a beautiful parking lot most of the day. Some people tell me it is the greatest 7-mile parking lot they have ever seen. While you are sitting in traffic you will be able to get out of your car and walk to one of the 5 food trucks and your car will be in the same place with a wonderful view of the Gulf of America.
Someone sounds vaccinated…
Town Council, ask Rude Shrimp how it went for them when they were down by the marina with all the neighbors near by constantly complaining of noise from music and other items. Rude shrimp is now in a more suitable location.
The town council should listen to the people who live in that area.If they.the new owners have 8 million to spend..then they should spend a little more and build a nice restaurant. Town council should be voted out asap.if they allow this.
Good luck to Mr Hotka, the manager. He will witness a lot of hostility from neighboring residents. I do not mean that as a threat, I never would but be prepared for a lot of complaints. Secondly, if approved which I hope it won’t the developer needs to put an electronic gate up at Pelican Watch so customers do not take a “short cut” under our building and out our driveway on the south side. While they are under our building scout out anything they can load up and steal! What a disaster waiting to happen.
Why on earth would any small town government do this to the adjacent residents so rudely effected by this?
And has anyone at Town Hall asked the flood insurance program folks about this?
How is this different from LaOla?
That has been covered… read the flood code requirements. Food trucks and food trailers must be of certain size where as a small light duty 150 truck can tow them off or they have a motor beneath their hood.
Please do not do this! This brings FMB down another ten notches. Every time you put a step forward this council takes 10 steps backwards. I am an owner on the south end of the island. This is a huge mistake! I feel sorry for the condo owners who live nearby. What a slap in the face to them! Food trucks do not belong anywhere on this island!
Please do not allow this to happen!
I am a NO on this project. I’d be a YES if it was an enclosed restaurant. (I’m ok with patio dining seating but not music etc outside.) I also am not a fan of pub/food truck food. I hate paper plates and plastic cutlery. This is basically just a tourist draw and could be an annoyance for the surrounding area and the greater local/resident population.
And this is intrusion into the residential neighborhood. Remember “Quiet Enjoyment”!
Spot on. As a neighbor in Pelican Watch I will never go there. Stick built restaurant I would whole heartedly support. It should have access from Estero or at most Chapel.
As an owner in the condo next to Pelican Watch,(IHBC), we are also concerned with the noise, intrusive people trying to park at our building and the atmosphere of what a food truck park would create. There are so many other places where this would be better suited and needed in the downtown area. We, as many others, bought our dream place here at this location for the privacy and quietness. If we want to hear live music we walk downtown.
I don’t understand how ‘La ‘Ola or Mom’s,or the bike rental place at likki tiki is being told to get out but the town is seriously thinking about allowing food trucks in a residential neighborhood. You say it “WAS” a restaurant for 50+ years, well IHBC has been there since 1979 and Pelican Watch not to long after that. What a mixed up idea this is!
Will be interesting to see what will happen. Personally, not a fan of food trucks. Food is overpriced to sit in a parking lot at a picnic table. No thanks. We need more real restaurants on the island so badly. It’s a shame no one wants to build a restaurant there instead?
This past Saturday the crazy congestion on Chapel street due to the large amount of people going to Moms food truck was just a small picture of what was to come. The traffic on those small streets, Cottage, Chapel, and Mangow will be bad. Just another back up zone also on Estero. And why do u need to be opened with music from 7am to 8pm 7 days a week? Vote no on this idea.
We bought a home nearby and I would have never purchased it if there was a food truck Concession in the area . We have enough problems with people trying to sneak into our private parking and i’m sure this is only going to Is exasperate the issue. I pray that town council will consider the existing residents that invested millions of dollars into their properties before making a spontaneous decision on a food truck concession. Personal, I Have never eaten at a food truck on the island and I don’t plan to anytime soon. LET Cape coral have the food trucks. I don’t think we Need them in my neighborhood.
Maybe you should have researched the lots in and around you… not all of them are residential, which brings forward the legal building of a commercial venue. Bar, restaurants… all possibilities.
It is well planned…..a beautiful project but in the WRONG location! These folks nearby are going to take a big hit in their property values!
The commercial property in question has been commercial and home to past restaurants for 50+years, so what came first, the commercially zoned/restaurant approved lot or the condo complex? Did the condo builder know he built next to an existing restaurant?
Deb – There hasn’t been a restaurant there in over 20 years. As the article clearly states, the local residents are not opposed to a restaurant. A food truck park is not a restaurant. It is an open-air lot for multiple mobile food businesses that run on gasoline or diesel fuel, and in this particular case with the addition of booze, music, and beach traffic.
Correct, but just because there hasn’t been a commercial venue there for 20 years, doesn’t mean that the lot changes to residential. It’s a commercial lot, always has been, always will be… so the neighbors should have done their due diligence when they bought in a neighborhood with “mixed” zoning. This lot has been commercial before and will commercial again.
It sounds well planned….