(By Beach Baptist Pastor Shawn Critser) Now that code violations have been officially issued, as a business/community resource center that received one, I would like to make a statement to the Fort Myers Beach community.
On April 30 of 2024, I submitted permit number 241228 to the town of Fort Myers Beach for a temporary structure for First Baptist Church of Fort Myers Beach. My structure was inspected, reviewed, and approved by Kendra Rosa in zoning and then inspected by Christopher Cox of the Fort Myers Beach fire department for compliance and approved by Jennifer Campbell on September 11 of 2024. On August 31 of 2024 I received the official notification of approval.
On October 28 of 2024 town officials took photos of my property and wrote up a code violation based off of a FEMA official correspondence with which has been proven to have been delivered to the town of Fort Myers Beach in July 2024. The notice of this code violation was not officially given to me until November 13, 2024 when it was posted on my building, officially giving me five days to take action.
I would like the dates here to be noted, that my permit and inspection/approval occurred AFTER the town of Fort Myers Beach received the official mandate from FEMA.
Based off of Beach Talk Radio’s story HERE, the town responded and said that they “hoped the judicial process would be longer, so that businesses could operate through busy season.”
I translate this as the town not agreeing with the FEMA mandate, and declaring that they will simply do what they want to do as a town government. This is proven today by semi’s not coming in to pick up and remove the town of Fort Myers Beach temporary structures per FEMA mandate.
Moreover, FEMA’s mandate declares that all temporary structures must be able to be moved by a half ton pick up truck. The maximum weight of any half ton pick up truck is 10,000 pounds. Therefore, no fifth wheel located on Fort Myers Beach would be able to stay. Only small/bumper pull travel trailers.
My question is, how can the town of Fort Myers Beach expect compliance and fee collection with any code from its residents , when it/they are publicly defying a higher authorities mandate?
Shawn Critser
Beach Baptist
shawn@beachbaptist.org
Comments are closed.