Banyan Park office park getting new building

A new 24,000-square-foot office building could be moving into the Banyan Park office park in south Fort Myers soon.

The building's owners recently met with the Hearing Examiner to discuss adding a building that will house medical and professional offices.

"The banyan office building that faces college parkway has an empty lot behind it. We want to put a building there," said Veronica Martin, the architect's spokesperson. "It's a good location."

The building, which will sit two stories over parking, is set to begin construction after the hearing examiner approves a rezoning of the property.

It is currently zoned commercially and the owners asking for permission to construct the building and make an amendment to the current land use.

"It appeared that there was staff support and public support and that we are moving on to the next phase," said John Spence, the architect for the project. "We believe it will be a positive move."

The move though hasn't come completely without scrutiny. Area residents near Whiskey Creek have shown concern about traffic but the owners aren't worried.

The area is zoned for intensive commercial development.

"We made a presentation to the adjacent association and they were receptive and had no problems," Spence said about having had several meetings with area residents.

The hearing examiner is expected to make a site visit in the next four to six weeks and the plans will then be sent to the Board of County Commissioners for approval.

"It's a nice design. It fits well," Spence said. "It's a beautiful building."