LPA Unanimously Approves New Hideaway Resort

The property is located at 5601 and 5607 Estero Boulevard which is in front of the Woman’s Club property on Sterling Avenue. On Tuesday the LPA unanimously approved the project which moves it onto the Town Council for 2 public hearings.

If the Town Council approves the project, the Development Order and permitting process is expected to take 12 to 18 months then it will take another 12 to 18 months to build.

The property owners hosted an open house for neightbors at the Library last week to show off the project and answer questions. Nobody attended. There was also no objection to the project during the LPA public hearing Tuesday. The Neighborhood Company represented the owner; SLASHA, LLC. 

The new boutique resort will include 30 units and up to 3,500 square feet of commercial space including a restaurant and retail. The total size of the property is .63 acres which is now an empty lot.

Before Hurricane Ian, the property included three buildings containing a 23-unit (22 guest units and a management unit) hotel/motel. The two-story buildings offered amenities such as kitchenette units, a swimming pool, outdoor dining areas, and on and off-site parking facilities for its guests. 

The LPA approval was to rezone the property from Commercial Resort to Commercial Planned Development.

In addition to increasing the number of units by 7, the proposal includes a restaurant and a coffee shop open to the public, a small sundries shop open to the public, and a rooftop pool for hotel guests only. 

The ground floor will include primarily parking, back of house operations, hotel lobby, and small food service/retail (café/coffee/sundries shop). The second floor consists of a combination of restaurant area, hotel accessory uses, fitness center/back of house, and hotel guest units. The third floor will be primarily guest units, and the fourth floor will consist of guest units and hotel amenities such as the pool/amenity deck area and back of house operations.
The CR zoning allows heights of three stories or 30 feet above base flood elevations. A deviation was requested regarding the height of the development, which is to allow a maximum of four stories and a maximum zoned height of 47 feet. The maximum actual height is 63 feet measured from grade to peak of highest roof. A total of 8 deviations were approved. 

As we’ve learned over the years, in order to request anything above and beyond the rules set forth in the Comprehensive Plan and land Development Code, applicants must provide the town with public benefit. Here’s what is proposed as public benefit for this project:

– Elimination and/or reduction of non-conformities.
– Improved pedestrian and vehicular access and site parking design to improve movements to and from Estero Boulevard and eliminate potential conflict points.
– Rebuilding resilient and hardened site improvements and structure.
– Providing for or increasing existing buffers and setbacks where abutting residential and other commercial uses to ensure cohesive redevelopment.
– Improving the public realm and creating a pedestrian-friendly environment through enhanced landscaping, bicycle parking, and pedestrian amenities along Estero Boulevard and Lazy Way.
– Encouraging bicycle (rentals for guests) and pedestrian activity to reduce vehicular impacts to the surrounding roadway network.
– Participation in the Don’t Rent a Car program.
– Continuing the redevelopment efforts of the island by bringing back a small boutique hotel and providing neighborhood commercial uses (restaurant and small retail) that are complementary to the area, which previously existed and that are envisioned for this part of the island.
– Replacement of non-FEMA compliant structures with a hardened, and resilient development which will meet all Florida Building Code and FEMA requirements and will benefit public health, safety and welfare.
– Providing outstanding coastal architecture compatible and consistent with existing, newly constructed homes and future projects.
– Contributing to the redevelopment of the island and strengthening the Town’s positive economic impacts including ad valorem taxes, bed tax, employment, and secondary impacts in supporting local businesses.
– Support of the FMB Elementary School through informing/educating staff about the school and providing flexible work schedules to facilitate drop-off and pick-up.

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