Fort Myers City Council has scheduled a public hearing for Nov. 16, 2026, to decide the fate of Billy Creek Apartments, a proposed 96-unit multifamily complex planned for 1455 Lockwood Drive. The project has already had a bumpy road through city review, with the Fort Myers Planning Board first rejecting a zoning request tied to the development before reversing course a month later and recommending approval.
A Zoning Reversal in Two Months
According to Gulfshore Business, the Fort Myers Planning Board voted 5-1 in July to deny the residential medium density zoning request the developer had sought. The following month, the board voted 4-3 to recommend approval of the project as a Planned Unit Development instead, finding it consistent with the city's comprehensive plan. City staff has recommended approval of the project ahead of the council hearing.
The property is owned by Luis Jurado, who is affiliated with Premiere Development Solutions LLC, per the same report. A commercial listing for the site describes it as an 8.12-acre parcel currently zoned RS 7 that is undergoing an entitlement process for the Planned Unit Development designation, calling it an opportunity to deliver a 96-unit multifamily community, according to a listing on totalcommercial.com.
What's Planned for the Site
Under the current plan, development would be concentrated on five of the site's roughly 8 acres, with the remaining acreage reserved as wetlands, the report notes. Billy Creek Apartments is designed to include a clubhouse, a playground, green space, and a pedestrian bridge, and may also include a dock for nonmotorized boats, per the same account.
Not everyone on the Planning Board was convinced the project belongs on Lockwood Drive. Board members who opposed the plan raised concerns about traffic levels, drainage issues, and the project's impact on nearby single-family residences, and dissenting members specifically questioned the apartment complex's compatibility with the existing neighborhood, the outlet reports.
Next Stop: City Council
The Nov. 16 hearing puts the final call in the hands of Fort Myers City Council, which will consider whether to approve the Billy Creek Apartments Planned Unit Development at 1455 Lockwood Drive despite the split recommendation from the city's own planning board. The city's online agenda center hosts current agendas and minutes for city boards and commissions, with board and commission meeting videos dating back to 2013 available through a third-party site, according to fortmyers.gov.
