On Monday the Fort Myers Beach Town Council denied a request from Robert Himmelstein to reduce a code violation fine from $16,500 to $0. The fines were a result of shipping containers Himmelsten had in his parking lot to store retail furniture for his store during his build-out.
Himmelstein is refurbishing the old bank building, in front of the Sea Grape Plaza, into a furniture store. Himmelstein was not at the Town Council meeting. He was represented by an attorney and his property manager Jeff Walker. Attorney Robert Hartzell said to the Town Council, “We’re here hat in hand asking for some relief from the fine.”
Town Manager Will McKannay recommended the Town Council deny Himmelstein’s request citing the “gravity of the violations” and the length of time it took Himmelstein to come into compliance. McKannay was trying to get property owners with trailers into compliance after a FEMA visit. It was a time the town was also trying to get back in FEMA’s good graces after losing the 25% discount on FEMA’s flood insurance…