Hearing examiner urges rejecting San Carlos Island development
Lee County's hearing examiner has recommending denying a 113-unit development for San Carlos Island saying it is "out of proportion" to the islane
Hearing examiner urges rejecting San Carlos Island development Lee County's hearing examiner has recommending denying a 113-unit development for San Carlos Island saying it is "out of proportion" to the islane Check out this story on news-press.com: https://www.news-press.com/story/news/2019/08/13/hearing-examiner-recommends-killing-bay-harbour-plan-san-carlos/1995495001/
Bill Smith, Fort Myers News-Press Published 4:50 p.m. ET Aug. 13, 2019 | Updated 9:42 a.m. ET Aug. 14, 2019
Lee County's chief hearing examiner says a proposed 113-home development is too big for San Carlos Island and "will not enhance the character of the island."
Chief Hearing Examiner Donna Marie Collins has recommended that the Board of County Commissioners reject the proposed development because it is too big for the "subdued, low-key atmosphere" of the south side of San Carlos, an area with working boat yards and fishing fleets.
While noting that the site at Main Street and Seaside Drive is "ripe for development following storm damage caused by Hurricane Irma, Collins says the plans do not fit with the community character of the island.
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A Lee County hearing examiner is recommending that the Board of County Commissioners kill a plan for a 113-unit development on San Carlos Island, on the ground that the project dwarfs the venerable fishing village. (Photo: Bill Smith)
"Redevelopment must be consistent with community character," Collins wrote in her decision. "This property is too small to accommodate the proposed development parameters without destroying the character of the island."
The development is proposed by Inkwerks Coastal Design and engineer James Ink. It calls for 113 apartments, 286 dry boat slips with a boat launching facility, another 29 wet slips, retail and office space covering 30,000 square feet and a 200-space parking garage.
Efforts to reach Ink for comment were unsuccessful.
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Collins reserved some of her harshest criticism for the garage, ruling that the facility is "ill suited" because there is "no dedicated means to transport people to the beach" and relies on a shuttle spot that is across five lanes of San Carlos Boulevard.
"The prospect of adults and children crossing San Carlos Boulevard without the benefit of a traffic signal is contrary to Lee Plan directives to protect public health, safety and welfare."
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But while being critical of the proposal, Collins called the property "clearly ripe for redevelopment" and says Ink has proposed land uses that "are compatible with the marine oriented community" but the elements of the latest proposal are simply too big.
In her decision, Collins recommends that Ink focus plans more in keeping with the San Carlos waterfront community.
It was the second negative recommendation for Bay Harbour. A similar proposal was turned down after Deputy Hearing Examiner Laura Belflower also found that project out of character with the surrounding community.
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