Residents are fighting against the possibility of bringing a water taxi shuttle to Fort Myers Beach.
Renderings show plans for a beach bar, resort and 17-story condos on the old Outrigger property on Estero Boulevard. The property across the street, where Charley's Boathouse Grill used to sit, is also a part of the London Bay Development Group's project.
While the development group has stayed quiet about what to replace Charley's with, they've talked about a shuttle boat to bus guests into the development at public meetings.
Residents say their canal between Bahia Via and Curlew Street is the passageway the water taxi would come through, and they tell NBC2 the waterway is already too narrow and shallow to handle that kind of traffic.
"We have a smaller boat here and we have to go in and out on proper times for the tides," said Dawn Miller, who lives on Bahia Via. "It’s a narrow canal. It’s all residents. It’s single-family homes!"
There's also pushback from residents about the height of the new condos.
"I’m all for having something built again at the end of the canal; I miss the Outrigger, I miss Charley's and everything we lost in Ian," said Joe Daniels. "I will say, I wish that the current company would follow the regulations and rules that are set by the town."
Other people NBC2 spoke with liked the water taxi idea if it meant an alternative route instead of facing the beach traffic on the roads to the beach. However, right now, it's not clear if the shuttle boat would be accessible to the general public or only used to transport guests from other London Bay properties to Fort Myers Beach. London Bay also has a luxurious 507-acre property on Estero Bay with Ritz-Carlton Residences.
"They want to run a boat every 30 minutes to bring people from their Estero property," said Miller. "And they don’t have ample parking for what they’re planning for, and that makes me believe they want to boat in their staff as well."
Miller helped lead a meeting Tuesday night where residents gathered in an effort to change the developer's plans.
"Everybody knows how much property there is for sale on Fort Myers Beach right now, so how’s that going to stop them from making commercial space in residential areas in other canals?" asked Daniels. "Maybe having the shuttle bus go through a wider space, like through Fish Tale Marina, and then bussing them in would be better."
London Bay's proposal includes these amenities open to the public: a shaded public park, bike and golf cart parking, the Outrigger Beach Bar and food truck, beach showers and restroom, lobby bar, rooftop bar, full-service restaurant, a ballroom and event terrace, cafe, and a crosswalk at Estero Boulevard.
In a statement, the development group told NBC2 that there are no decisions made for the old Charley's property or surrounding canals yet.
The London Bay project was on the town's LPA agenda for Friday, but the development group put in a request to reschedule Tuesday night, forwarding NBC2 this statement: "London Bay Development Group, a leading developer and homebuilder in Southwest Florida for the last 34 years, has requested an indefinite continuance to their application for 6200 Estero Boulevard, the former location of the Outrigger Beach Resort. This decision allows the team adequate time to address comments in the staff report."
You can count on NBC2 to keep you updated on the development.