Earlier this month we reported that Seagate and the Town of Fort Myers Beach responded to the court challenge filed by 10 residents who live near the former Red Coconut property and have challenged the Town Council’s decision to approve the Seagate development. The development includes two buildings that could go as high as 17 stories and several other tall buildings. Fort Myers Beach broke away from Lee County in the mid 1990’s to prevent tall buildings from being built on the island. Of course that was many years before Hurricane Ian.
The 10 residents are part of a larger group called Protect FMB that has raised tens of thousands of dollars to fight the development’s approval by the town in court. Fort Myers Beach resident Tom Brady, a member of Proect FMB, spoke at the last Town Council meeting to voice his disappointment with the filing and how harsh it was toward residents.
The town is partnering with Seagate to defend the decision to approve the project. The Town Council vote to approve was 3-2 in favor, after the LPA recommended denial. Council members Jim Atterholt, John King and Karen Woodson voted to approve the project in December of 2024. Protect FMB wants a judge to rule in their favor and send the issue back to the Town Council for reconsideration. It’s important to note that even if a judge rules that the town must take another look at the project, the same thing could happen. They could vote to approve. One thing that is different now is that there has been a lot more backlash from the community after the vote than there was leading up to it…