Only restaurants in Santini Plaza generate more interest than the Fort Myers Beach pier. Everyone wants to eat on the South End and everyone wants to know when the new pier will be built. The answer to both has been elusive.
On Wednesday we were the first to reveal the new renderings of the pier from Lee County on our Facebook page. The new pier will be 1,000 feet long and 12 feet wide. That’s 71% longer and 50% wider than the pier destroyed by the storm. The Board of County Commissioners approved over $17 million to build the longer and wider pier back in June of 2024. $11 million for the project will come from Tourist Development Council reserve funds. The balance will be paid by FEMA.
While it’s been 3 years since Hurricane Ian a big part of the delay blame has been placed at the feet of FEMA for taking so long to obligate the funds, and the Army Corps of Engineers, who take a painstakingly long time to approve permits, 16 months for this permit. The original target date for completion of the pier was Summer of 2028. Lee County Commissioner David Mulick said back in February that after pressure from the county, an entire year was shaved off from that timeline and the pier would be ready to walk on in the Summer of 2027.
Here’s what might derail Mulicka’s new shorter timeline.
It’s anticipated that Lee County will go before the Fort Myers beach LPA for a special exception “to allow the like-for-like reconstruction of the pier with elevated walkways, shade structures, lighting and fish cleaning stations in the EC zoning district seaward of 1978 CCCL.” And while town staff recommends approval of the special exception it’s under a condition that no work be done at all during turtle nesting season which is May 1st through October 31st. And failure to comply would render the special exception “null and void.”
I don’t understand why a bigger and better pier is necessary; just build it back the way it was. Also I don’t understand why there is an inordinate concern about the sea turtles; I thought that the majority of them nested at the south end of the island. Besides, wildlife has a wonderful ability to adapt, unlike their human counterparts. Interrupting construction on the pier will only increase the costs for the project and push completion out farther.
What is the reason for the raised section closer to the sand?
This may seem like a stupid question but, why does FEMA pay for any of the reconstruction?
Agree. Construction of the pier should not be interrupted. The time square and pier area are high traffic areas for tourists. Considering the high human traffic turtle nests are unlikely, the additional cost for start and stop of a contractor, and the delay of FMB town rebuild there should be no restrictions for the pier rebuild. Please LPA and Town Council let us get back asap.
Fish cleaning stations?
Hopefully innards won’t end up in the waters of that bathing beach.
There were fish cleaning stations on the pier before. The birds and fish and other critters keep the “innards” from reaching the shallows.
I’m confused as to why we need a bigger pier? The only time there are more than a handful of people fishing is during the 3 months of peak season. The other nine months, the pier is almost vacant. With that said, why didn’t TC appeal to Lee County/FEMA to divert some of those funds to local residents, businesses and infrastructure to help rebuild? We need money for that, we don’t need a bigger pier or higher property taxes.
Town Council has no standing to jump in between LeeCo and FEMA for pier rebuild funds. Funding given for specific purposes cannot simply be “diverted.”
And the town has sought and received from FEMA a significant amount of funding that benefits FMB.
Omg. The work cannot stop once it starts. That will increase costs astronomically. Having a company stop its workforce & relocate for 6 months then move the equipment & staff back again. Maybe twice. Ridiculous. Just get it done.