AMVETS concerned by truck storage plans

By CHUCK BALLARO
The AMVETS Post 81 is planning to build a new home to replace the aging facility it has now on North Tamiami Trail. However, a planned truck parking area next door could put those plans in jeopardy.
Officers of AMVETS came to the North Fort Myers Civic Association meeting last week at the Chamber of Commerce office to let their concerns be heard.
Dave Branson, new post commander, said AMVETS has plans to build a new post building next to the old one, which will be torn down.
The problem is next door, C&B Truck World, out of Cape Coral, is looking to bring in a place where tractor trailers can park, using the driveway they have now for access.
“This is a bad idea. We’re going to deny it because the membership, many of whom are older and come in golf carts or cars, would create terrible traffic,” Branson said. “It would also result in damage and maintenance to our driveway.”
Branson also said with the new library, the rec center and the hotel across the street where families live and school buses stop to pick up and drop off kids, it would be too dangerous.
“The trucks would have to make a U-turn to go southbound and they would be able to come and go at all hours,” Branson said.
The owners of the property wanted to make a zoning change from commercial to storage and went before the North Fort Myers Planning Panel to present their plan, which was rejected.
Kevin Butwill, past commander, said the post does not have unlimited funds and has financing in order. However, if the storage facility goes there, everything they do will affect AMVETS and its pocketbook.
“If we were forced to move our driveway, once we move into our own building, we may have to build a new driveway, which we wouldn’t be able to do,” Branson said, who added the cost of the building is about $1 million.
AMVETS is hoping they can get some relief from impact fees or something similar from the county, since it was ineligible to receive funding from the county’s $2 million pilot program, which has recently been depleted.
AMVETS said it is grandfathered in regarding his driveway, which is now considered too close to the road. The new building may require them to change that.
The storage facility is seeking to have just a gravel driveway, which is pervious. Butwill said a driveway the storage place is seeking needs to have arrows, which would be impossible on a gravel road.
AMVETS Post 81 has 750 members, including 460 veterans, auxiliary and sons. They also have a riders’ group that does functions and awareness.
The current building occupancy is 100, which becomes very crowded whenever they have a large function.