Ft. Myers Development News

[SDK4]

Tell me about it. The "Duany Effect" has gripped this town and will not let go. And the stupid thing is, most of the inhabitants here are going along with his plan.

[jim09091]

Originally Posted by SDK4

Has any one in Ft. Myers heard any new news on the I-75 toll expressway? The commisioners here in Sarasota are "weighing" their options on whether to join the authority.

I can't say I've heard anything recently since the bill was signed by Bush. Nothing from SWFTI, FDOT, or the counties either.

[jim09091]

Originally Posted by SDK4

Tell me about it. The "Duany Effect" has gripped this town and will not let go. And the stupid thing is, most of the inhabitants here are going along with his plan.

No kidding.

He has threatened to take his name off of the Fort Myers plan a few times if things don't end up his way. Fine by me.

[Dale]

Nooo ! Keep him down there. We're afraid if you run him off he'll come to Orlando.

[Jasonhouse]

^He's already got his sights set on St Pete Beach, from what I hear.

[Dale]

Well, what am I saying. Seems like all of our high-rises are designed by the same firm - Baker Barrios.

[Jasonhouse]

Ask and you shall receive...

Duany is apparently designing a ~9400 acre master planned community for Orlando...muahahahaa
http://www.dpz.com/project.aspx?type...me=Avalon+Park

[SDK4]

Just wait, DT Orlando and the theme parks are next.

[Landier]

I'm looking at a unit on the 25th floor of the Cypress Club right now as well, trying to make my decision.... big step... and I'm in my 20s as well... It's gonna be a happenin' place.

[MisterFreddy]

Originally Posted by Jasonhouse

^Am I the only one who thinks Duany is a total assclown? Yeah, make an urban setting "vibrant" by seriously crimping supply and building only high end anywhere near town, thus ensuring that the workforce serving the rich and retired, have to live 30 miles away in exurbs so that they can afford to put food on the table.

btw, he's actively behind the fouling up of Dt Sarasota presently underway.

[Landier]

High-rise project hits roadblock

By Betty Parker
bparker@news-press.com
Published by news-press.com on July 13, 2005


A proposed land swap that was a key element of plans for The Vue condominium project in Fort Myers has been rejected by state and federal officials, who want more information on the project.

City officials also had hoped that a payment of $380,000 for part of the riverfront land at Centennial Park could ease the exchange process.

But that deal also was rejected because the government has a process for such land exchanges that does not include cash payments.

City officials said Tuesday they are working on providing the state Department of Environmental Protection and the National Park Service with the extra environmental and land use information requested.

The longest part of the process could be the 30-day period set aside for public review and comment, said Elly McKuen, Fort Myers planning manager.

Gathering other information could take less time, she said.

"We believe we will have approval to proceed in about 45 days," said Kerry Steeno, vice president with Throgmartin Co., which is building the 27-story high-rise at Centennial Park.

"We're optimistic."

The project also incorporates a new home for the Edison Sailing Center, a boating program for young people.

But Fort Myers Councilman Warren Wright, who has opposed the controversial project, said he thinks the detailed environmental data requested will take much longer.

The National Park Service, in a four-page single-spaced memo outlining needed information, included factors such as precise and exact drawing and boundaries of the properties involved; the impact of the conversion on the remaining parkland; an environmental assessment of the land involved; and standards used in appraising the involved parcels.

Beyond time needed for that, Wright said, "there's no deadline for DEP to issue those permits once they get the information."

Throgmartin had a ceremonial groundbreaking for the project almost a month ago, even though permits and approval of the land swap still were pending.

Fort Myers Mayor Jim Humphrey, who had hoped a possible solution might be to pay the federal government $380,000 held in escrow for the needed land, declined to comment on the situation.

He referred instead to a response he sent DEP, July 5, saying "It is the city's intention to move forward with the proposed conversion for Centennial Park."

He and city staff "look forward to working" with DEP and other agencies on the project, Humphrey wrote.

He referred further questions to McKuen.

At particular issue was the exchange of two parcels of property, each about a half-acre large.

McKuen said the city owned one parcel of about 16,700 square feet in Centennial Park — which the developer wanted — and offered to exchange that with the developer for another nearby parcel of about 18,000 square feet.

But because the city's Centennial Park land was partially paid for by a federal park service grant in the early 1980s, the city needed park service approval for the swap.

The grant money involved was about $380,000, so city officials had thought they could gain control by repaying the money, McKuen said.

But the grant was for public park space, which means a detailed process must be followed before giving up the land for private use, agency officials said.

While the city's original request for approval of the swap "contains a lot of detailed criteria," said the letter from the National Park Service, "much of the required information that we need was not provided."

That agency's officials also said they'd work with the city on developing its new request.

"Any time you work with the federal government, it can be very time-consuming," McKuen said.

Steeno said they "definitely" expect to move ahead with their project as it's planned, if a little late.

"We're trying to do everything everybody has asked," he said. "Some things just take longer."

[Landier]

Nothing is easy around here, they make the process 10 times as hard as it needs to be, and 20 times the paperwork... but I guess that's job security for me

[Landier]

Riverfront high-rises may cap at 25 stories

Fort Myers City Council proposes code changes

By ALISON KEPNER
AKEPNER@NEWS-PRESS.COM
Published by news-press.com on July 24, 2005

High-rise development along Fort Myers' riverfront could be limited to 25 stories if elected leaders adopt proposed changes to the city's code.

By comparison, that would mean developers couldn't build towers higher than the downtown Ramada, also 25 stories.

If approved, the new limit would not affect projects already approved by the council, which include projects as high as 32 stories.

City Council members seemed supportive of a cap this week but held off on deciding until Sept. 6 so planning board members can review the proposal and offer a recommendation at their Aug. 10 meeting.

Several planning board members and residents as well as Andres Duany, the renowned urban planner who designed the city's 2001 downtown redevelopment plan, have criticized Fort Myers leaders for approving buildings higher than Duany's recommended 18-story cap. Their complaints include concerns taller buildings would bring in too many people and block river views downtown.

Jim Tanner, who has lived downtown for six years, hopes the proposed limit passes.

"Smaller is better," he said. "I sure wouldn't exceed 25."

Otherwise, "the city is going to lose its charm," Tanner said.

At the council's request, city staff prepared three alternatives to the density and height limits for the area.

Current code for most of the waterfront allows 50 homes per acre with opportunity to double the density if the projects meet nine criteria, which range from including public open space to contributing to affordable housing.

The staff's three alternatives suggest reducing the number of allowed units to 30, 35 or 40 homes per acre with the maximum bonus at 50, 60, or 70 homes, respectively.

They also may limit the height of buildings, a move that could further restrict density on small land parcels. Currently, buildings can range from two to 18 stories without bonuses, but no limit exists on how high the buildings can go with bonuses. Staff members recommend an 18-story standard cap and 25-story bonus limit with all three alternatives.

Planning board member Bill Spikowski prefers the middle option of 35 homes per acre with the bonus limit of 60 but acknowledged no magic number exists.

"You can have almost any density done well and done poorly," he said.

The problem with the projects Fort Myers leaders have approved, Spikowski said, is the size of the units and other amenities that go with them. Together, "the building is monstrous," he said.

Although Spikowski still worries 25 stories is too high, he said any limit is better than none.

"I was just happy that the City Council is willing to look at changing those numbers at all," he said.

Council members also will consider changing how they award bonuses. Instead of their evenly weighted nine criteria, they will discuss a planning board recommendation to award bonuses based on seven criteria of differing weights. Two current ones — contribution to hurricane evacuation shelters and including pedestrian connections — would become required of all projects, whether or not developers seek bonuses.

Councilman Mike Flanders hopes to tweak that idea. He wants to make including public open space a requirement to receive any bonus units or stories. The council also will consider making participation in the long-sought Riverwalk required of all waterfront projects. Riverwalk would be a public walk across town along the Caloosahatchee River.

Councilman Warren Wright campaigned for his Ward 1 seat this spring by saying he wanted to follow Duany's plan more closely.

He is pleased council members seem supportive of tougher restrictions.

"I was glad to see they were willing to back down and lower the heights," Wright said.

[Landier]

WTF ARE THEY THINKING!?!?!?!?!

[MIAballinboi]

woow, what an article, its so sad its funny,

the part that theyre like "smaller is better" and how the hell can they be supporting this, a city full of nimbys, if this pases.....

[smiley]

They are thinking it is a town full of retirees.

[Jasonhouse]

Well, the attack on Florida's environment never ceases.

Just remember Ft Myers dum-dums... For every housing unit you deny in the urban core, you put another housing unit that further out into the undeveloped countryside.

[FloridaFuture]

"Smaller is better," he said. "I sure wouldn't exceed 25."

Otherwise, "the city is going to lose its charm," Tanner said.

That's all I needed to hear before I knew this was disaster.

[smiley]

Twin luxury projects planned along river

Paradise Preserve in both North Fort Myers, Cape

By DON RUANE
DRUANE@NEWS-PRESS.COM
Published by news-press.com on August 11, 2005






Two new luxury developments sharing the name Paradise Preserve will change the face of the riverfront where Cape Coral meets North Fort Myers just north of Four Mile Cove Ecological Preserve.

High-rises, some as tall as 26 stories, will rise along the river, but the project planned for Cape Coral already is drawing mixed reviews. Some city officials are impressed, but residents are wary of plans to scoop out canals so homes will have access to the Caloosahatchee River and concerned about the traffic impact on Four Mile Cove Parkway.

The projects are physically separated by water and private homes in Cape Coral.

http://www.news-press.com/apps/pbcs..../1008/NEWS0106

[SDK4]

They might as well get this project in because once the anti building folks get Duany to come back in, kiss your buildings goodbye.