The Port Royal Club got the go–ahead to move forward with its $100 million reconstruction after roughly 10 hours of hearings and continued opposition by a neighbor concerned about excessive noise. 

Naples City Council on Aug. 21 unanimously approved a conditional-use petition that allows the 65-year-old club at 2900 Gordon Drive to build a larger, higher three-level clubhouse with indoor and outdoor dining, a new pool and deck, outdoor seating areas, a two-story garage and new landscaping and lighting in a public service district. The clubhouse was destroyed by Hurricane Ian on Sept. 28, 2022. 

Council also voted 5-2, with Mayor Teresa Heitmann and council member Linda Penniman opposing, to approve a waiver allowing an 11-foot wall between the club and neighbor Terry Mullen’s $31-million home to the south; city codes limit walls to 6 feet. Council also voted 6-1, with Vice Mayor Terry Hutchison opposing, to allow outdoor dining.  

Before the hearing, the club made $2 million in changes to appease Mullen and Council also imposed conditions, mostly due to concerns by Mullen, his attorney, architect and acoustics expert:  

• The third level’s after-dinner lounge southern facing balcony will be enclosed. 

• Sliding doors for the second level’s sunset bar will be closed once it reaches 50% occupancy. 

• Pool hours will be dawn to dusk. 

• If there are three noise violations confirmed by Code Enforcement within 12 months, the club must come before Council to address them. 

• The 11-foot wall will be fully landscaped and will have no attached signs, speakers or lights. 

• A private beach access pathway that linked the south parking lot to the beach since 1959 next to Mullen’s property will be eliminated. 

• A new emergency access path for emergency and fire department use will be added near the north property line. 

The plans still must return to the city’s Design Review Board for a final design review. 

“This is a petitioner that has jumped through many, many, many hoops—many more hoops than a typical petitioner,” the vice mayor said of attorney Clay Brooker of Cheffy Passidomo and the club’s team of experts. 

The plans still must return to the Design Review Board for a final approval. Council’s approval came after two days of battles by experts, a project manager, architects, attorneys and acoustical experts. That prompted heightened concern by council members, who painstakingly went through each allegation with City Planner Erica Martin and others.  

The focus was the 30-foot clubhouse, which reached 48.6 feet after the club’s experts and city planners considered base elevation, velocity levels, sea level, hurricanes and wind surge. The club already had moved the pool 80 feet away from Mullen’s property line, from 10 feet. Mullen also wanted a private gate and a 20-foot wall, but Council cited aesthetics, property values and hurricane risks and the club’s expert said 11 feet and other restrictions would mitigate noise. 

“The only thing that would be incompatible and unacceptable would be to build a 20-foot wall, the Berlin Wall times two,” Hutchison said, reiterating council Member Ray Christman’s comments and noting that Interstate 75 wall barriers are 22 feet.

The club issued a statement thanking City Manager Jay Boodheshwar and city staff for assisting them through the lengthy application process.  

“We are delighted to have secured these pivotal entitlements and eagerly anticipate advancing the construction of our new clubhouse, which will continue to be a cherished cornerstone of our community for generations to come,” the statement said. “We appreciate the City Council’s approvals after scrutinizing the project to ensure compliance with the city’s regulations.” 

Mullen, who declined to say whether he was considering a lawsuit, said only: “I’m grateful for the tremendous work that the City Council members and city staff did to review and adjudicate this matter.” 

The club, which is capped at 700 members, is borrowing $20 million to finance construction and assessed members $45,000 on Aug. 1. The cost and wait prompted 45 members to leave but 23 Port Royal residents on a waiting list then joined. In an Aug. 9 letter to members, Club President Nancy Carlson said 85% of those who resigned were over age 70, leaving 622 members. 

Suffolk Construction is expected to begin work on the West Indies-inspired project later this year, followed by a grand opening in late 2026. The design by internationally renowned architectural firm Hart Howerton will add additional amenities, including a gulf-front infinity pool.