Royal Palm Square redevelopment expansion heads to Fort Myers City Council

FORT MYERS, Fla. (WINK)— A proposed expansion to the Royal Palm Square redevelopment is headed to the Fort Myers City Council later this month, where members will decide whether to approve changes that would make the mixed-use project larger than what was originally approved in 2024.

The applicant is seeking to amend the Planned Unit Development (PUD) for the property at 1380 Colonial Blvd., expanding the project from 12.64 acres to 14.09 acres after incorporating 44 additional townhome parcels into the development. 

If approved, the amendment would increase one-bedroom apartments from 160 to 197, two-bedroom apartments from 240 to 296, commercial space from 250,000 to 288,000 square feet and parking from 1,437 to 1,616 spaces. The hotel component would decrease from 175 rooms to 150. 

According to the developer’s website, Royal Palm Fort Myers is envisioned as a walkable mixed-use destination featuring retail, restaurants, medical and professional office space, luxury apartments and a hotel. Phase One includes plans for two medical office buildings, retail space, about 300 apartments, an Element Hotel by Marriott and a new Omni Health Club.

While city staff recommends approving the amendment, the proposal has divided city leaders.

The Fort Myers Planning Board voted 4-2 in July to recommend denying the amendment, citing traffic concerns related to the increase in proposed residential units along Colonial Boulevard and McGregor Boulevard. 

City staff, however, says the project remains consistent with the city’s Comprehensive Plan.

In a statement to WINK News, the City of Fort Myers said staff believes the traffic impacts associated with the amendment are insignificant and pointed to an accepted Traffic Impact Statement, which concluded the development “is not projected to create significant or adverse transportation impacts on the impacted roadways analyzed.”

The city also said the additional development is largely possible because of the added acreage included in the amendment and that any additional traffic improvements would be determined during the site permit review process.

Some nearby residents remain concerned.

“If they’re going to put any money into it, put money into the streets,” said Danielle Hampton, who lives nearby. “Summerlin already gets backed up as it is. I’ve seen people backed all the way down Summerlin in traffic, and that’s miserable when you’re trying to come home from work.”

Others said they support redeveloping the aging shopping center but worry the proposed expansion could add congestion to one of Fort Myers’ busiest corridors.

City Council is scheduled to hold a public hearing on the proposed amendment Aug. 17, when residents will have an opportunity to weigh in before council members vote on the request.