On Monday evening, Marco Island City Council voted 5-2 to approve a land variance for an already green-lit restaurant at the vacant lot located along 588 Bald Eagle Drive. The property directly borders the Jewish Memorial Garden, a section of the Marco Island Cemetery.
"I think it's just sad that they couldn't look at the whole picture," said Bert Thompson, a Marco Island resident and Jewish man who has already purchased plots on the cemetery grounds for himself and his wife.
"It's going to create noise. Somebody is going to be ordering fries, may be arguing with a car behind them, beeping horns. Somebody move it fast, faster. There'll be traffic. Build up. There could be a lot of different issues that cause people here who came to be respectful for what's going on," said Irv Povlow, who spoke at the City Council meeting Monday.
The land variance will now permit the space to expand southerly and westerly buffers from 15 feet to 3 feet, as well as create space for parking, and a drive-thru lane. Those expansion plans will be within inches of the resting place for dozens of Jewish people.
"This is a holy place. This is my final resting place and my wife's final resting place, and we're getting closer to that every day. I would hope that City Council will really reconsider," said Thompson.
The property is owned by the restaurateurs behind other popular Marco Island locations including Joey D's, Doreen's, and La Meza. At least one City Councilman, Greg Folley, has received more than $10,000 from the petitioners, according to campaign finance records. Folley told ABC7 News Thursday that donations did not impact his decision in this case.
"Maybe, ethically, they should just not vote on the issue," said Thompson.
"Whether donations given by Joey and his family to these some of these Councilmen mounted to them making the decision because they felt they owed him something because of the donations for political campaigns ... if that's the case it's upsetting," said Povlow.
The land variance and construction project are already approved. Residents tell ABC7 News that they plan on looking at additional options, including a wall to block out noise and traffic.