Opposition to Seagate Development Agreement 109-243-24 (ORDINANCE NO. 24-34)

We, the undersigned concerned residents and friends of Fort Myers Beach, strongly oppose the Home Rule Development Agreement (Draft 109-243-24) between the Town of Fort Myers Beach and Seagate Fort Myers Beach, LLC. This agreement would allow for the development of two 17-story high-rise buildings, with a maximum height of 235 feet above base flood elevation with a total height of close to 255 feet. 

We believe that this project is incompatible with the character and scale of our community and will have significant negative impacts on the environment. The proposed development is not in keeping with the Town's Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Code, and will set a dangerous precedent for future overdevelopment in our town.

Specifically, we are concerned about:

Height: The proposed 17-story high-rise buildings are out of scale and character with the surrounding community, which is primarily low-rise buildings and single family residentials houses. This project will dominate the skyline and set a precedent for further high-rise development in the area. While many have stated these will be “set back” from Estero Boulevard, the immense scale of these towers make any setback a moot point.

Lack of Public Benefit: The agreement provides minimal public benefits, which do not justify the significant negative impacts that this development would have on our community and the extreme deviations from our Comprehensive Plan. We believe that the Town should prioritize agreements that deliver greater public benefits, such as affordable housing, infrastructure improvements, or beach side park spaces donated to the Town into perpetuity. Benefits to the public should be just that, and not benefits to just the developer and be in proportion to the ask of the developer. This agreement's public benefits do not come close to the scale of what the developer is asking for.

Incompatibility with Comprehensive Plan: The proposed development is inconsistent with the Town's Comprehensive Plan, which aims to preserve and enhance our community's unique character and quality of life. Allowing this project to proceed would undermine the Town's efforts to create a long-term vision for responsible growth and development.

Quality of Life: The sheer scale of this development will be a strain on our already limited infrastructure, including roads, water and sewer systems, and emergency services. Again, there are no provisions to address these shortcomings in the agreement other than the developer will pay impact fees at a later date.

We, the undersigned concerned residents and friends of Fort Myers Beach, urge the Town Council to reject this development agreement and protect the character, environment, and quality of life in Fort Myers Beach. We call on our elected officials to stand up for the interests of their constituents and oppose this overdevelopment.