Sanibel gas station restoration approved as part of Hurricane Ian recovery

Sanibel resident David Muench said the east end of the island is missing a key feature. "The east end of the island has needed a gas station since Hurricane Ian," he said. The Sanibel planning commission approved a conditional use permit Tuesday to convert part of the run-down gas station near Periwinkle Way and Bailey Road into a convenience store. The decision marks the first step in the station's restoration. For Muench, the decision marks one of the final steps toward Sanibel's comeback from past hurricanes. "This is definitely the cherry on top," Muench said. Mike Miller, Sanibel's mayor, expressed his hopes for the project's timeline. " expectation is to be done in a year. I would like to see it done in a year. I think it's possible, but we'll see," Miller said. The new building will feature a 1950s design and be better equipped to withstand hurricanes. For residents and visitors who need to fill their cars' tanks and prefer not to travel to the island's west end, the restored station will save them time. Although this is not Sanibel's largest hurricane recovery project, Miller emphasized its significance. "Every single step towards recovery is good news," he said. Muench hopes the building's restoration will make visitors' experiences better. "We want the island to welcome you and look like nothing at all has ever happened," he said. The next step requires the gas station's developer to file building permits before construction can begin. A timeline for when construction will start and end is not yet available. DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.