One year ago Moss Marina owner Ben Freeland saw the writing on the wall and pulled The Arches redevelopment project before it could be rejected. He went back to the drawing board, hired The Neighborhood Company, knocked off 140 rooms, and got one of two approvals he needs to proceed.
On Tuesday the Fort Myers Beach Local Planning Agency unanimously approved The Arches, a complete makeover of the 5 acres of property the Freeland family has owned for decades as a marina with big boat barn buildings. During his lengthy presentation, Neighborhood Company Partner Patrick Vanasse said, “This project will revitalize our downtown. This will signal to everyone that Fort Myers Beach is back and thriving.”
The 10 parcels of property is adjacent to Snug Harbor restaurant. In 2024 this same LPA voted to deny the project because Freeland was only asking for a Future Land Use Map Amendment and believed the project was just too big. They wanted to see the entire package presented and that’s what they saw this week.
The original Arches redevelopment of the Moss Marina property included 3 resort structures totalling 400 rooms, a marina, restaurants and other retail. The downsized project still includes 3 buildings but now totals 263 rooms. The buildings are 5,6, and 7 stories high between 58 and 81 feet high. Fort Myers Beach is only at 50% of its pre-Ian hotel room total. If the town expects to get anywhere near where they were before the hurricane it will all have to come from new builds.
There is also 15,000 square feet of commercial space and 336 parking spaces, 96 that will be available to the public. The marina use will remain, and they will be adding a ship’s store and boaters’ lounge along the public promenade. The promenade will have restaurants and live entertainment located close to the water. The plan has a marina with approximately 75 slips.
Boaters will also be able to dock for the day and there will be slips for kayaks and paddleboards. On Old San Carlos, heading down 3rd street, there will be a bodega, restaurant, grocery store and open air market. The majority of the property will be open to the public.
If built, the resort is projecting to generate over 225 new jobs with $12 million in salaries and generate $2 million per year in ad valorem taxes for the town, fire department and library.
Several residents from the surrounding neighborhoods spoke up in opposition to the project. Moss Marina is adjacent to two nearby neighborhoods. They are worried about an increase in noise and people looking down at them in their homes and pools. The LPA did ask Freeland for concessions on music and outdoor bars on the sides of the structures facing the neighborhood. He agreed to all of them.
The project now goes to the Town Council for two public hearings: May 5th and June 1st. If the Town Council approves the project can proceed.
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