Jillian Haggerty
•7/2/2026
PINE ISLAND, Fla. (WINK)— A packed community meeting put the future of a local marina at the center of a heated debate Thursday night.
Dozens of Pine Island residents filled the Pine Island Methodist Church to share their thoughts on Jug Creek Marina & Fish House and its plans to expand.
For many, the marina represents hope for a community still healing from years of storms.
"We're surviving; we're survivors here on Pine Island. We lost Captain Cons, we lost a couple of our other, we lost Hooked, we lost a lot of our restaurants," said Donna Coleman, a neighbor.
Business owner Chardayne Seuffert said the marina has been a bright spot for the island.
"We are also recovering from the hurricane and the moral its a destination its done really really good things for the island," Seuffert said.
But not everyone sees it that way.
Some neighbors say the marina's growth has changed the quiet, old Florida community they moved to.
"We bought into a quant fishing village not into a bar nightclub scene," said Gary Graef, a neighbor.
Graef also pointed to the growing number of cars lining nearby streets as a concern.
"Everybody has a good time down there, it is a really nice place its just a shame we live on the street," Graef said.
The Lee County Sheriff's Office confirmed that deputies have enforced parking violations along Tortuga Street.
Jug Creek's management says they have heard those concerns and are already looking at ways to improve parking.
"The county has had the opportunity to see our draft twice, and there's a question and answer period that goes back and forth, so we're making sure we're addressing all the requirements," said Steve King, operations manager of Jug Creek Marina.
Thursday's meeting was not a hearing to approve or deny a rezoning request. It was a required public comment meeting before the matter goes in front of Lee County Commissioners.
