Earlier this week DiamondHead General Manager Neil Hopgood presented expansion plans for the resort to his next door neighbors at the Surf Song condo building. The DiamondHead team is hoping to add 57 rooms to the existing 121 rooms currently at the resort.
Before the town of Fort Myers Beach incorporated in the mid 90’s Lee County approved a project on the DiamondHead property to build 154 units and go up as high as 15 stories over parking. Everyone knows the history of incorporation and what drove the town to break from Lee County.
The permitting of the development was contentious and faced legal challenges. To move forward and expedite the construction, ownership decided to reduce the height of the building by 3 floors, but maintained the right to all density. So by right, under a Development Order granted by Lee County, DiamondHead was approved for 154 rooms, and 12 stories over parking. However, the town is now incorporated, and has its own rules…