Naples voters raise commercial building height limit to 40 feet

A special town meeting on September 28, 2026 approved an amendment to the Naples land use ordinance raising the maximum building height in the commercial zoning district from 35 to 40 feet. The Select Board then held its regular meeting, approving a new business license for Fitzy's Bait and Tackle, authorizing a line of credit for the recreation center project, and debating the timeline for opening construction bids.

Key points

• Special town meeting voters approved the ordinance amendment increasing commercial building height from 35 to 40 feet; the moderator's manual was also adopted.
• The board approved a new business license for Fitzy's Bait and Tackle at 38 Harrison Road, with the buyer saying his wife will run the shop full time as a family business.
• The board authorized the town manager and treasurer to apply for a line of credit (a bond anticipation note) for the $2.65 million voters approved for the Naples Recreation Center, and to spend those funds under the town's bidding policy.
• The town treasurer reported competitive bidding on new banking services, with a leading candidate offering 3.8% on working accounts versus the current 2.2%, potentially raising interest revenue from about $115,000 to near $200,000.
• The board approved the 2026-2027 general assistance ordinance and named Joanna Yates, Karen Hoxie, Patricia Crisco, and Randy Lessard as election clerks.
• A dispute arose over the bid schedule for recreation center site work: Colin Brackett argued the town had told bidders bids would be opened at one select board meeting and awarded at the next, and resident Priscilla said residents feel the board keeps changing plans.

Next steps

• The town manager will notify the 13 companies that received the excavation bid packet that bids will be opened October 19 and awarded October 26.
• The town will post a note about the October 19 and 26 bid dates on its website RFP and bidding page.
• The board plans to decide on a new banking services provider by the end of the week.
• Two other business license applications were pushed to the next meeting because they still need planning board review.

Read the full transcript