by SC Reporter Emilie Alfino
The owners of the Bubbly Latitude Store received permission from the Planning Commission on September 24 to move ahead with plans to locate in Palm Ridge Plaza. This will be the only location of Bubbly Latitude, which is moving from its existing location at Bell Tower in Fort Myers. It is a small, local business.
To do so, they needed a conditional use permit from the Planning Commission to operate a commercial retail use with more than 2,000 square feet of commercial floor area in the Town Center General Commercial district, located at 2400 Palm Ridge Road.
The property is developed as a mixed-use commercial center, known as Palm Ridge Plaza, constructed in 1974, with approximately 5,600 square feet of commercial floor area and six dwelling units rented annually. Bubbly Latitude would occupy units three and four (approximately 2,858 square feet), formerly occupied by Remax of the Islands. Other businesses located at Palm Ridge Plaza include an interior design business and professional office. Kingfisher Realty is located to the north, Lake Palms apartments are to the east, and a vacant lot (formerly Community Housing & Resources, and Center 4 Life) is on the opposite side of Palm Ridge Road.
Recent history shows that similar conditional uses approved since 2014 are Sea Glass Lane, Periwinkle Place (2017); Congress Jewelers, Periwinkle Place (2018); and Beach Daisy, Periwinkle Place (2021).
This conditional use type was established in reaction to Mango Bay and the consolidation of all retail units at the Sanibel Center shopping plaza at 1711 Periwinkle Way into a single commercial unit in 2004. Thereafter, an ordinance established a conditional use review for retail stores with more than 2,000 square feet of commercial floor area (except for grocery stores, hardware stores, etc.) in lieu of a prohibition on the creation or consolidation of retail spaces of this size. The “whereas” clauses of this legislation included the following goals or items of intent:
• Protect the unique character of the community so that Sanibel remains an attractive and desirable residential community;
• Retain a proper balance between the resident-serving and resort (tourist) segments of the Commercial Sector of the community;
• Ensure that the City’s regulations support the continuation of existing businesses or establishment of new businesses that serve the residential segment of the community;
• The establishment of a limit on the size of specific commercial retail units can contribute to the maintenance of a proper balance between the resident-serving and resort (tourist) segments of the Commercial Sector of the community.
This conditional use for Bubbly Latitude requires city council approval.
City staff recommended approval of the application subject to 10 conditions, including, among other things:
• A change of use development permit, to implement the approval of this conditional use and required conditions must be obtained within a period of 12 months after the date this resolution is filed. The application shall include a site plan and off-street parking plan that provides a total number of off-street parking spaces in compliance with design standards and a minimum number of ADA spaces and access at a location nearest building ingress-egress.
• Identifies a 12’ x 30’ loading zone within the existing parking lot.
• Removes drive aisle access from Wooster Lane to Palm Ridge Road or effectively obstructs vehicular traffic circulation (cut-through maneuvers) with permanent improvements (i.e., landscape island, interconnectivity path, bike parking).
• Install bike parking facilities that accommodate no less than 10 bicycles.
The applicant has agreed to comply with all 10 conditions set forth by the City.
Applicant Sarah Jacobson and her partner Kate Zembrodt said they never gave up on opening on Sanibel. They were set to do so in The Village Shops when Hurricane Ian made it an impossibility. Currently located in Bell Tower, Jacobson and Zembrodt said they are excited to make the move back to Sanibel. “We bring something to the island that hasn’t been here before,” Jacobson said.
“I have shopped there for gifts, so I see it as resident-serving,” said Commissioner Erika Steiner.
“It will definitely be shopped by residents and tourists alike,” said Commissioner Kate Sargent. “And I have no doubt this corner will be vastly improved.”
Carrying everything from bedding to Christmas ornaments, clothing, furniture, and more, the owners hope to open the store November 1.
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