Tuesday was a bad day for London Bay. 6 requests were voted on Tuesday, 5 were overwhelmingly denied. LPA members objected to the height of the buildings, the Floor Area Ratio (F.A.R.), and the scope of the entire project London Bay presented.
The final vote denying London Bay’s request for a text amendment to the Land Development Code to create a new Outrigger district was 5-2 with Jim Dunlap and Ed Schoonover voting in favor.
The next step in the process is for London Bay to go to the Town Council, which they repeatedly indicated they plan to do. They can pitch the council their original plan or modify it before their presentation. They go to the Town Council with an LPA denial and staff recommending denial. With the Seagate provoked recall, a community outcry to stick to the Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Code, and an upcoming election for 3 council seats, London Bay has an uphill climb to get this project approved as presented. It’s clear that Lond Bay CEO Mark Wilson’s claim that Fort Myers Beach needs large scale devlopment like his has not gained much traction with decision-makers so far.
Before the LPA began whipping out their rejection votes on the project, London Bay CEO Mark Wilson withdrew all of his proposed changes to the height of the condo building. His latest modifications took one floor off the condo building while adding an additional floor to the three other buildings. Wilson may believe he’ll have better luck getting 3 council votes on the proposal he originally presented. The Town Council will get two cracks at it in June. Two additional meetings were scheduled for June in anticipation of hearing and voting on this project…