It’s going to be extremely hard for the Fort Myers Beach Town Council to ignore the LPA’s recommendation to deny Terry Persaud’s 50-unit 5-story hotel in Times Square. The denial was unanimous, emphatic and unambiguous.
When LPA Chair Anita Cereceda asked Persaud if he planned to take his proposal to the Town Council anyway, which is his right to do, he wouldn’t answer. It was obvious LPA members wanted to send a clear message to the Town Council that there wasn’t a single positive they could take away from Persaud’s proposal.
LPA members shot down the height of the building, the Floor Area Ratio (2.5), the equivalency factor Persaud needed to use to come up with 50 hotel rooms, and his lack of any public benefit in return for such a big ask.
By right, Times Square property owners can build up to 3 stories, 1st floor below flood of 20’, 15’ above grade, and two more stories on top for an additional 30 feet. Persaud’s proposal was 5 stories and 65’ to 70’ above grade on .5 acres of buildable land. He originally asked for 8 deviations from the Land Development Code but dropped that down to 6 on the fly during the LPA meeting.
Persaud’s proposal was negotiated with town staff in a Development Agreement, a process the town adopted after Hurricane Ian with a goal of helping the “mom and pop” business cut through the red tape and extra filing fees to build back quicker. However, LPA Member Jim Dunlap questioned Town Planner Sara Probst, asking her if, in fact, the proposal was negotiated. She acknowledged it was not. So far only Persaud and Seagate have used the Development Agreement process. Both LPA Chair Cereceda and Mayor Dan Allers believe that process needs to be looked at again.
During negotiations, Persaud and town staff could not come to an agreement on whether the project would benefit the community. It was sent on to the LPA, without a staff recommendation, where it was soundly rejected this week.
The public benefit Persaud put on the table was a bike rack, a paved pathway to the beach, a rooftop bar, retail space, and an unknown amount of money for Persaud’s properties prorate share of replacing pavers in Times Square.
When LPA member Jim Dunlap asked Persaud to commit to covering the cost of all the pavers in Times Square or paying for a protective seawall and working with property owners himself to get reimbursed as real public benefit, Persaud didn’t bite. When LPA Chair Anita Cereceda asked Persaud if he would consider donating the Dairy Queen property on the other end of Times Square as a possible public benefit, Persaud didn’t bite.
LPA member John McClain said Persaud “had pushed the envelope in every possible way.” LPA member James Boan said “this is beyond anything we’ve ever had to deal with. The public benefits are all hotel amenities. I don’t see any offset of public benefits to justify the ask.”
During public comment Buffalo Grill owner Fred Mallone, a big Persaud supporter, accused Margaritaville CEO Tom Torgerson of opposing the project because he said Persaud would be competition to his business. That was shortly after Torgerson, also during public comment, applauded and supported the new Arches project (263 hotel rooms) at Moss Marina and the additional hotel rooms and upgrades being made to The Lighthouse growing it to 130 units. Both projects are within walking distance of Margaritaville. Torgerson said Persaud’s project was just the wrong project in the wrong location.
Persaud’s biggest argument for the project was that building this hotel was the only way people were going to return to Times Square. That did not move the needle at all with all 7 LPA members. When it was clear to LPA members Persaud was not going back to the drawing board and might be going over their heads to the Town Council they made sure the denial motion was all inclusive: the height, the FAR and the hotel equivalency with uncompelling justifications and incompatible with the Comprehensive Plan and no public benefit.
The vote was unanimous.
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But what about all of the turtles 🐢 ?
TLM = Turtle Lives Matter
Terry should consider taking lessons from Tom Thorgerson, Mville is the poster child for public benefit, Persaud’s proposal is ridiculous, he could care less about the future of this town and he is showing us what he is really about.
I understand that the purpose of building this development is to make money, but in a tourist town it has to be beneficial to everyone, not just the property owner.
Agree 100%. Unfortunate that WAK didn’t take that view with Seagate. Also, will never again support the Buffalo Grill for the BS that guy said in support of Terry, basically slandering Tom.
Amen
This looks like a different rendering than the one we have been seeing recently. Did it change? The other had dining on the roof but this looks like it’s on floor above garage and retail. And this looks like 3 floors above garage? I actually think this view looks a lot better. Has more character to it than the other view.
Would that be a good place for Salty Crab and other restaurants and shops?
Just leave it undeveloped and let the public enjoy! The pier and restrooms and showers would be inviting.
I agree with this idea. I loved the old TS, but the current version is kinda nice. Instead of filling it up with “stuff” just let people enjoy it as is.
“As it is”??
You mean the fenced-off broken concrete?
What happened to the proposal from the consortium of Times Square owners that was unveiled last year? That structure was fantastic, and included an elevated walkway to Margaritaville to elevate people crossing Estero which causes traffic backups!
Sad that that city doesn’t take a pro-active view of helping developers come up with solutions that all can benefit by. Work WITH those willing to invest, not against. Come up with a solution so we can get the beach moving in a positive direction ion!
The town has made suggestions, he wants no part of it.The town made suggestions to the Arches and they changed their plan and received a 5-0 vote in their favor.
The problem is and always will be the developer.
The LPA and Town expectations are so high that no one will build to their liking. The beach will continue to look like a hurricane hit yesterday for many years to come!
We all know It’s been a long time since Ian. But you have only one shot to get Times Square right. And the owners of the properties that make up Times Square aren’t making this process any easier. If there isn’t a ton of thought and planning put into this re-development, it will be a disaster. Times Square is a gathering place. A place where people can congregate. Shop. Grab some great food and enjoy some entertainment. A place where families can wind down after a long day on the beach. A five-story hotel on that small piece of property will be an imposing structure. There is no set back. It will come right up to the edge of the street. The constant automobile traffic going in and out of the parking lot will be a nightmare for the pedestrian traffic alone. Whether its people coming and going from the rooftop restaurant or just guests checking in/out or just going/coming back from an excursion for the day. I think the city needs to get the owners of these properties to come together and come up with a plan that will make Times Square a family friendly gathering/entertainment spot on the beach and not a place dominated by a 5-story structure that will just cause people to gather elsewhere. Take the Time. You have just one chance to get this right.
The right call for sure, but TS is going to look like sad
rubble for years…. the pier may be rebuilt, but there will be nothing interesting at the base of it? And why can’t the Town fix the pavers? Not their property?