LPA To Take Another Look at The Arches

One year after voting no on a Future Land Use Map Amendment that would have set the Arches redevelopment project on a better path, the Fort Myers Beach Local Planning Agency will take another look at the project on April 8th. 

The Arches redevelopment project is being proposed by the Freeland Group on 3.53 acres of land the Freeland family owns adjacent to Snug Harbor restaurant. On that property the Freeland family has operated Moss Marina for decades. 

When the LPA voted to deny the Future Land Use Map Amendment by a vote of 4-2, Freeland decided to move forward to the Town Council anyway. After all, there had been other projects denied by the LPA and approved by the Town Council. However, when it became clear he didn’t have the votes he pulled the project at the last minute and took it back to the drawing board.

While technically the LPA denial was not ‘on the project’ the general vibe at the time was that, as proposed, it was too big. Members of the LPA were also wary of approving the Future Land Use Map Amendment before even seeing the entire Commercial Planned development (CPD). On April 8th they will see it all as one package.

Since the May 2024 LPA denial, The Freeland Group has downsized the project and brought on The Neighborhood company to do their pitching. Neighborhood Company President Patrick Vanasse is a Fort Myers Beach resident and former LPA member. Vannasse, along with Vice President Ken Gallander, have been extremely successful getting projects across the town’s finish line, including; 4 new 7-11 stores, The Neptune, Myerside Resort, Sandy Bottom’s, The Cottage, and they are one vote away from turning a new Food Truck/Entertainment venue into a reality. It’s also important to note that Vannasse was on the LPA at the time of the failed Arches vote, and he did vote in favor. Town Staff recommended the LPA deny the request stating the proposed change “is not clearly in the public interest.” 

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. We don’t yet know the exact height of the buildings, however, Vannasse says they would be the, “Highest and largest closest to downtown/Old San Carlos, and the shortest and smallest along the canal. They step down in height and intensity with all parking under the buildings.”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 promenade. The plan now has a marina with approximately 75 slips.
Of course, the new elephant in the room is the Seagate/Red Coconut redevelopment project which was denied by the LPA and approved by the Town Council. Once that project was approved a very vocal group of Fort Myers Beach residents were outraged and wound up filing a lawsuit against the town to try to stop the project. Has the atmosphere for these bigger projects on Fort Myers Beach changed in any way due to the reaction to Seagate’s approval? 

At the LPA meeting one year ago, several residents from the surrounding neighborhoods spoke up in opposition to the project. Moss Marina is adjacent to two nearby neighborhoods. At the LPA meeting, after the public spoke, Chair Ainta Cereceda said  “I’m like the old guard. I want people to be able to live their lives. That’s the oldest neighborhood on the island. I can never escape the commercial intrusion on neighborhoods.” Whether or not Cereceda feels the downsized project is any better, something she can now approve, we will find out on April 8th.