Fort Myers Beach residents raise concerns over proposed development at former Outrigger Resort site

FORT MYERS BEACH, Fla. —

The site of the former Outrigger Beach Resort on Estero Boulevard, across from the new Fort Myers Beach Town Hall, remains vacant after being destroyed by Hurricane Ian, and town leaders are now debating a proposed mixed-use development for the land.

Many residents attended a meeting to share their thoughts on the proposal, which includes a mix of homes, a hotel, shops, and restaurants. David O'Brien, a Fort Myers Beach resident, expressed concerns about the project.

"The noise and the proximity of alcohol and the height. I mean, the height does not fit with the properties that are adjacent to it," O'Brien said.

Robert Burnett, another resident, raised issues about infrastructure and the impact on views.

"I just don't think we have the infrastructure for it, and everybody's view is going to be interrupted," Burnett said. "We have to come up with another plan to let people make money."

The proposed development by London Bay includes 46 residential units, 150 hotel rooms, approximately 46,000 square feet of commercial space, and around 340 parking spaces.

Patricia Oddou-Moore, a Fort Myers Beach resident, acknowledged the need for development but expressed concerns about its size and potential effects.

"Well, we do need some things on the south end, but I worry about it being too big, and the traffic and the water; our water is not that great as it is," Oddou-Moore said.

To move forward, the developer is requesting 12 exceptions to current rules, which has sparked debate. O'Brien voiced his opposition to the variances and the mixed-use nature of the proposal.

"It does not make sense in the area that it's being proposed, " O'Brien said, "They're looking for all kinds of variances and special exceptions and changing it to mixed use."

The meeting is still ongoing as residents and town leaders continue to discuss the future of the site.

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