When the Fort Myers Beach Local Planning Agency meets today the only item on their agenda is Seagate’s Red Coconut proposal. It’s one of the bigger development projects the town has been working through that includes taller buildings that some residents are pushing back on.
The Seagate proposal includes 2 buildings that are home to a total of 137 condo units, 4 single family homes, 3 parks, a restaurant open to the public, a 240 foot view corridor on the beach side of the property, a private pedestrian walkover and a private beach club.
Seagate will be asking for more height (and other deviations) than what’s allowable on that property. The north condo building is 15 floors over 2 floors of parking with 69 condo units. The south condo building is also 15 floors over 2 floors of parking with 68 units.
The Seagate team believes what they are returning to the town in public benefit should help them get the height they are asking for. The question for the residents may come down to do they want taller buildings with more of a view corridor or short spread out buildings with no view corridor at all.
In September 2023 Seagate Development purchased the 10 acres that used to be the home of the beloved Red Coconut RV Park for $52 million.
We will carry the meeting live on our Facebook page and YouTube channel.
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It’s pretty simple, you either have a height restriction or you don’t. ” Public Benefit” is both subjective and a slippery slope. They just denied EBIC because of height. Imagine the legal challenges the town will be subject to and related cost residence will have to pay for, if they approve this deviation.
I don’t care either way, but the town should change their requirements versus allowing for deviations/variances.
Either stick to your own rules or test them up and start over……
In addition to the typical concerns related to the height, there needs to be consideration taken on this proposal related to the possible environmental impacts to the preserve behind the property. What will the additional hours of shade from the 17 stories do to the preserve’s foliage and wildlife? Has a study been conducted?