The Fort Myers Beach Town Council is purchasing this property at 166 Chapel street and 99 Tropical Shores Way for residents of the mooring field. Taxpayers will be buying the half acre of property (the lots face each other) from Gordon Zeng for $1 million.
The town will use the property to expand services for the residents of the mooring field. It will include a new building, and upland services (bathrooms, showers, trash removal, washers and dryers and other amenities).
Chapel street resident Jay Light spoke before the council this past Monday and reminded the council the lot the town is going to buy is zoned residential. And, he accused the council of usurping its own rules for changing the zoning. Light said while other property owners have to go through hearings and proper notification to neighbors, the town council doesn’t.
Light said the resolution to purchase the property is terrifying because it states “and or other appropriate uses as determined by the town council.” He said that means once the town owns it, “zoning be damned, you can do anything you want.” He questions whether or not this is legal or whether this is right for the town to do. He said, “we’re afraid of what this might become, what you might do with this.” Light added that maybe he would take this to the Nuisance Abatement Board. “You think my chances are good they would determine the town be a nuisance. Probably not. There are neighbors around there that will be negatively impacted.”
Judith Light, who’s the chair of the Anchorage Advisory Committee, said she has mixed feelings about the property the town is purchasing. While she’s been at the forefront of finding a new facility for upland services, she’s concerned it’s being built on the street where she owns property. “My concern is the development, and it gives the town the right to do whatever they want, and not necessarily for the upland facility.”
There is access from the water is this picture to the right indicates. 
The Town will use $400,000 in contingency funds for the purchase, a loan reimbursement of $300,000 and a $300,000 reduction in other planned capital projects.
It’s important to note that Town Manager Roger Hernstadt has said that more money will be needed for the town’s big three projects: Bayside Park, Bay Oaks and Times Square.
The town currently operates a 70-slip mooring field east of Matanzas Pass Bridge and is planning to expand the mooring field to add an additional 19 moorings west of Matanzas Pass Bridge accommodating vessels up to a length of 85 feet.
The town is now renting space at the Harbour House on San Carlos Boulevard to manage the mooring field.
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