This week, in a 4-3 vote, Jamie and Debbie Hotka and Dan Myers received LPA approval for their proposed Food Truck Entertainment Venue at 2500 and 2510 Estero Boulevard. The LPA meeting was long and 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 that 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 pool is feet away from the main building being proposed for the Food Truck Park, separated by a white fence the condo association was installing last week.
Homeowners and condo owners behind the proposed project all came out in opposition. 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.
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. It was not an easy day for LPA members, juggling the concerns of an existing neighborhood with the rights of a commercial property owner.
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.
In all Myers posted to the Beach Talk Radio Facebook page earlier this week that up to $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. The next step is to go before the Town Council where two public hearings need to be held. The first public hearing will be Monday, March 3rd. The second public hearing will be 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. The Hotkas own the property and Myers will be the General Manager of the business if and when it opens.
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Maybe a developer will buy this property and the church property and town property across Estero, and build a 800 room hotel. I’m sure WAK would vote for it, especially if they had a skyway over Estero like Margaritaville and offered a restaurant for public benefit.
Doesn’t this violate the no mobile vendors ordinance?
They have relaxed this during state of emergency is how all these food trucks are now allowed.
I believe this is only temporary.
The ordinance says the unit must be able to be moved with a light truck, so they would be in compliance.
Maximum Development and packing as many visitors on the Island as possible seems to be the priority of city officials. I just wish they would change the codes and regulations so that all of the resident home owners can cash in on this. As the saying goes “If you can’t beat them, joint them”.
Besides the possibility of any parking issues, I’d be pretty stoked to have a venue like this within a few steps of my condo.
Well offer that up to ur co do association. We would be more than happy if they moved it next door to u.
If that was a possibility I certainly would.
I think this is a great idea!These places are usually pretty quiet and never have blaring music!Worst thing is you will smell great food!Ive been to a couple of these food truck parks and they are very nice with comfortable seating and a great place to gather with friends!!!!
And they will have their own bathrooms so they won’t be coming in your neighborhood to look for a place!LOL
As a visitor to these food truck parks, you may not recognize the sounds and smells that drift off the property especially as you are there for a short time. Those of us who live next-door will get to experience the sensory overload every day of our lives from 7 AM to 9 PM. This property currently does not allow outdoor amplified music. They are asking for a change in use. The smells you enjoy may be enjoyable to most. However, in excess, even the most enjoyable smells are overwhelming, especially when experienced for long periods of time. The neighbors never had to express their need to not have their property rights infringed upon. Restaurants have operated on this property in the past without disrupting the lives of the neighbors. That’s all we are asking now.
Totally agree.
Exactly…. And for f
Reference only two of the lots were commercial until recently when they again asked for zoning change and a change to the original cpd.
This story appears that everything was and has been zoned commercial and that we the neighbors are being ridiculous in our concerns.
Also, $8 million dollars into the project? Not sure that a food truck park costs $8 million dollars.
Commercial intrusion
How would one feel if you owned a condo or house and when you wanted to sit out on your lanai, you overlooked a food truck park playing some sort of music u may hate, while maybe u r trying to eat dinner on your lanai, entertaining friends and/or family or just trying to enjoy a peaceful sunset. Or you want to take your kids or grandkids to the pool and this same loud food court is right next door, very close, to your pool. Or u have a lot of traffic constantly cutting thru ur condo parking lot to avoid traffic congestion getting out to Estero from the food court parking lot. There are a
couple new homes being built, who will have this food court in their backyard. I’m still hoping this does not pass for even more reasons than stated above. And BTW it’s NOT because we r spoiled neighbors!!!
We own one of the lots DIRECTLY BEHIND THIS PROJECT. Many have said you should have done your research before you bought your lot.
We did. We have owned our lot close to 20 years now. We were there before all other owners on that corner and that is why we purchased where we did.
Quiet, respectful neighborhood, safe,
clean and away from the business of town square.
Now we are going to be surrounded by the exact opposite of why we purchased.
We are not against rebuilding island life, but there is not the place for this project. The streets, access, and traffic congestion can not handle this influx of potential visitors to this neighborhood.
Anita Cereceda, John McLean, and James Boan voted no. Doug Eckmann, Jane Plummer, Don Sudduth and Jim Dunlap voted yes.
Thank you Cathy for finishing the article. Voters need to know those that oppose development and reconstruction of FMB.
Ed Rood,
That is such nonsense.
Claiming Anita oposses development and reconstruction is assinine.
What they may oppose are those who refuse to consider the rights of neighborhoods to the same peace, quiet and safety they’ve known for decades. Those folks should not have to accept loud music blasting thru their homes all day long or strangers wandering thru their yards.
Would you Ed?
Hello Lee, I’m not sure but I don’t think you live in FMB, so I think your opinions are pretty much irrelevant. I am very much in touch with most of the property owners on the south end and they want progress. They envision a new FMB different than the past. Out with the old and in with the new!
This is categorically False Ed Rood –
Enough of your BS , you don’t speak for me nor the vast majority of folks who live on the south end .
Has anyone checked with the flood insurance program about this?
What level of flood zone is that lot? Ian blew away homes there, including the island’s first school. Charlie (04) took out a restaurant there since the forties.
Just curious.
Please don’t assume the owners are (spoiled and just want an empty lot). We are open to a closed restaurant like the Mucky Duck that was there before Charlie took it out. Had no problem with that. This food truck park does not belong in a residential area. Most of us here are retired and want our little peace of paradise. We don’t want to have blaring music from 7 in the morning until 8 at night. Please before you accuse us of not wanting to this project, think how you would feel about this and a beer garden, for 14 hours a day and 7 days a week five feet from your pool.
I’m out of town and missed this meeting.However this is ridiculous. I do.
Not want food trailers Across from my house and all the problems It will create. Town council should really think about what we’re doing here.It’s ridiculous.
I’m out of town and missed this meeting.However this is ridiculous. I do.
Not want food trailers Across from my house and all the proms I will create. Town council should really think about what we’re doing here.It’s ridiculous.
I don’t think there a single neighborhood on the island that is pro development… looking forward to a new venue to visit !
IDK what the residents want or fear and am curious. Have a condo across the street from the old Wyndham/Pinchers. We enjoyed the music and smell of food.
I think they should build the food truck park on the Wyndham property.
Bring it on, the south end is ready willing and able.
I love your question!
If this is being approved. We should also give kiosk opportunities to small retail businesses areas like and around food trucks.
A couple kiosks would be perfect in this venue. Food, drink, music and souvenirs. One stop shop.
What type of business would the neighbors prefer at this location? It sounds like they have been spoiled with empty lots.
Sounds like you’re very opinionated and judgemental. You don’t know anything about the neighbors, the neighborhood or how this venue will affect the neighborhood. Keep your out of town judgemental opinions to yourself.
This is an open forum for freedom of expression, opinion and speech. You have no right telling someone, to shut-up.
Agreed.
Open forum and freedom of expression applies to Jack as much as anyone. He has every right to say what he did.
Deb, with all due respect, while it is nice for freedom of speech, there are more out of town, non-owners and some have very loud “voices”. When you are talking about something that will contribute to the home values decreasing and attracting more strangers roaming through our yards, loud music, etc. it’s probably best if the voices of the owners/residents be the ones that are listened to and not some wannabe that “used to vacation here as a child”.
You are assuming I am from out of town.
Maybe a standard brick and mortar restaurant.
a brick and mortar restaurant. From the headline, I expected to see who voted how
Where is the vote tally?
JC – Did you read the article? The second paragraph states the site has been home to multiple restaurants over the years. Did you attend the meeting? The people in this neighborhood are not “spoiled.”
In the interest of credibility, it’s a good idea to educate yourself before speaking.
Yes, I read the article. It appears obvious the issue is the food trucks and nothing more. They should be happy they are not getting a 17 story condo that blocks the sun. This is a be careful what you wish for argument.
Exactly!
We want any business that can be contained on that property and where the activities associated with that business do not spill over onto our properties. We do not want to be part of our neighbor’s business venture. A brick-and-mortar building built to today’s hurricane standards with FREE parking for those who patronize the building so they don’t feel the need to look for “free”, yet illegal, parking on our narrow residential streets. (This is happening now with another temporary trailer business in the area.) I believe anyone will agree that amplified music from a single musician travels easily on our island. When buildings are built across Estero Blvd, the amplified music facing that direction will bounce back toward the Cottage Ave residences. (Again, I’ve experienced this already on our island.) If we’re in our homes and yards, we don’t want to hear constant music and the boisterous sounds of those imbibing who will talk louder to communicate with others. This isn’t to say that we don’t participate in these types of fun activities ourselves. But we go somewhere away from our homes for these activities. We know that our homes are the peaceful place in our lives that we can return to afterwards — at least for now. It’s also not just the sound level, but the constant noise that can be extremely bothersome. We live by the beach. We want to hear the waves hitting on shore. We want to enjoy the sounds of nature that we currently experience at our homes and not have them drowned out by these other noises.
Once these nuisance activities are granted to this property, the next owner will have the same rights. So even if the current owners try to alleviate problems of their own accord, the next owners may not. (I don’t know if the current owners would try…just suggesting that they as local residents, should understand our concerns.)
Great businesses that could go there would be those that serve the neighbors and island visitors year-round and without regard to the weather. A pizza restaurant that employs a bicycle delivery service to those within a mile or two of their brick-and-mortar establishment. Add additional businesses into this same building. Perhaps a family-friendly ice cream parlor. A bakery/internet cafe. A sandwich shop. A hair salon and spa. Some sort of retail store. The parking, which could include space beneath this building, would not be a pay-parking-lot as is currently proposed. The lot would serve the business or businesses enclosed in this commercial brick-and-mortar. Patrons know that there is a place for their vehicles and they won’t be up-charged $20/$30/$40 to patronize the business(es) on this property. (The current proposal has all spots as paid parking with some sort of reimbursement if purchases are made from the Food Truck Vendors.)
Any business here doesn’t need an open facade that could emanate sounds/smells. Think of Charlie’s Boathouse and Diamond Head’s Coste restaurant. They contain(ed) their patrons and run (ran) successful businesses. But should this new business decide to have an open deck, they don’t need to play music that disrupts the livelihood of the neighbors. After all, people enjoying any family-friendly business most likely wants to have conversations and be able to hear each other. (We all know some island restaurants that have amplified single musicians. Your table conversations involve leaning in and screaming at each other when the music’s playing. You’re more likely to point to what you want on the menu rather than speak it to your server because they can’t hear you.)
There are options to this commercial property that don’t have to infringe on the rights of the residents next door from enjoying their properties. There are two other commercial properties that currently abut our neighborhood. The Town has restrictions on them that were put in place to better work with the neighborhood. One can only operate sunrise to sunset. The other has to close by 4pm and not have any outdoor music. The Town has recognized the needs of nearby residents before. It feels like the LPA is abandoning us now. I hope Council doesn’t.