Public hearing today on Garden Street Iron and Metal expansion

FORT MYERS, Fla.- Monday, about a hundred people showed up to express their opinion about a proposed expansion of Garden Street Iron and Metal.

A handful of current Garden Street Iron and Metal employee and their families filled the room in support of the expansion. However other residents who don’t want the expansion wore shirts saying, “No junk city.”

The Fort Myers City Council held a public hearing on the company’s plans to add an auto parts yard at Hanson Street and Walpear Street.

Company owner Robert Weber tells WINK News the new facility would be a self-service auto parts yard. He says they’ll build a wall around the property so you won’t see anything from the road.Weber believes the expansion will help the economy and create jobs.

But some in the area see it differently. Homeowners say the development will be an eyesore, and could bring down their property values. They’re also concerned the expansion will violate a law against new junkyards in the city.

A public hearing for April was cancelled at the last minute because the city didn’t advertise it properly.

A planning board denied the project late last year, but city officials have the final say.