Kelly's Fish House stays open in Naples; redevelopment plan to be redone

Kelly’s Fish House in Naples is here to stay, for now.

After more than a year of planning, developer Harry Zea withdrew plans for a major overhaul of the waterfront property after a heated discussion took place during a City Council meeting in January.

Zea had proposed a three-story Kelly’s Landing, with a restaurant and rental condos. The project would have resulted in the closing of Naples' longest-operated restaurant, Kelly’s Fish House, near the Gordon River Bridge.

More:Kelly's Fish House to stay open at least another tourist season

More:Amid project delays, Kelly's Fish House to stay open

During the council meeting, Planning Director Robin Singer said her staff and the Planning Advisory Board did not find the proposed development met the definition of a marina and recommended denial.

City Attorney Robert Pritt said during the council meeting that a marina means an establishment with a waterfront location designed to service watercraft. The Kelly's Landing proposal was not designed to service watercraft, he said.

Zea asked for the city to explain what "service" meant. However, Pritt said that answer would be left up to the City Council to make.

The city then proposed continuing until April, but Zea’s attorney, Burt Saunders, said the project could not wait that long.

Zea thinks the motion to continue until April was a delay tactic.

“We’re in a tough position,” Zea said. “It’s a disheartening situation for me.”

According to Zea, the property came with a submerged land lease by the state that deemed it a marina, so he didn’t think there were any issues regarding the marina status.

But on the Friday before the council meeting, Zea said he was notified by staff that they weren’t going to support his petition.

“That’s a death blow,” he said.

Underground parking and traffic flow were major concerns discussed during the council meeting. 

“When I'm looking at a project that is going to be very intensely developed, due to two floors of underground parking, I just have major issues with that," said Councilman Doug Finlay during the meeting. "Not just the counts but the access."

Saunders emphasized numerous times during the meeting that if the two-level underground parking garage could not be built, the proposed design of the project would go away.  

As of Tuesday afternoon, Singer said no other plans have been submitted to the city.

“The Planning Department has not met with anyone regarding other proposals for that site,” she said.

But that doesn’t mean Zea has called it quits.

“We haven’t given up on the project,” Zea said. “We are going to do everything in our power to continue to develop the site.”

According to Zea, new plans for the Kelly’s Landing project include replacing the proposal for underground parking with surface parking, along with Doc Ford’s Rum Bar & Grill on the first floor and transient lodging on the second and third floors.

Zea assured that nothing will happen until after the tourist season.

“Kelly's will enjoy a great season, so I would encourage people to go enjoy a bit of Naples history and have some fun at Kelly’s,” he said.

Kelly’s Fish House, formerly known as The Fish House Dining Room, was opened in 1953 by Pat Combs. It was obtained by Kelly McGill in 1971 and then passed down to her son Kelly Ellis.

The restaurant employs 20 to 30 people and is known for its popular seafood dishes and key lime pie.

Kelly Ellis said customers are happy to hear the news of the deal falling through.

Ellis is not sure of the future of the restaurant, but he said he plans to be selling seafood dinners for a while.

The council meeting Jan. 17 can be viewed at www.naplesgov.com.