Fort Myers Beach may be on the verge of expanding its town boundaries as officials consider the annexation of San Carlos Island, a move that could add approximately 1,000 new residents to the town overnight.
The idea was introduced by Councilman John King during a recent town council meeting. The proposed annexation would extend from the Hurricane Pass Bridge to the Matanzas Pass Bridge, effectively bringing the entirety of San Carlos Island under Fort Myers Beach governance.
“I’d like the council to consider annexing San Carlos Island,” King said, citing the strong sense of connection many residents already feel with Fort Myers Beach.
“It would bring them into a town that they always identify with. It would give them a chance to vote on local government and possibly have people on the council,” he added.
Community Reactions Mixed
While some see the move as a logical next step for regional unity, not all residents are on board.
Rick Good, a longtime resident of San Carlos Island, voiced strong opposition to the proposal.
“It seems like a negative to me. I can’t see any reason for it,” Good said, expressing concerns about the potential for increased building restrictions and decisions made by Fort Myers Beach that might not reflect San Carlos Island values.
“We know some of the restrictions they have done on buildings, and then also, they have approved a lot of stuff that we wouldn’t have been for,” he continued.
Good also emphasized that San Carlos Island has long functioned effectively as an unincorporated area, praising local law enforcement and emergency services.
“We’ve never had any issue with police or fire. The sheriff’s great around here, so they take care of everything,” he said.
Next Steps: Town Halls and Dialogue
Councilman King stressed that annexation would not proceed without robust community input.
“I’d have a series of town halls, sit down, discuss the idea with them, hear their concerns, let them hear what I think will happen, and either we can go forward or not,” he said.
The topic is expected to be brought up for further discussion at an upcoming management and planning meeting within the next two months. In the meantime, both supporters and opponents will have the opportunity to voice their perspectives.
Stay tuned for updates on this developing story as Fort Myers Beach continues evaluating the potential annexation of San Carlos Island.
