Lee County, which owns the Fort Myers Beach Pier, is ready to go. The holdup is the Army Corps of Engineers. Without permits from the Corps. all the county can do is wait. We heard back from the Corps. and what they said does not give us confidence those permits will be issued any time soon.
We heard back from the Army Corp Monday. Here’s what they said when we asked when the permits would be issued:
“The project review is currently in formal consultation with USFWS and NMFS, under Section 7 of the Endangered Species Act. Remaining steps before final approval include review of all responses/approvals/concurrences (such as Biological Opinions (BO) issued by USFWS and NMFS), and final drafting of the permit decision documentation.
At this time, a timeline for a final determination is unknown.
Various factors can affect the length of time for a permit review. As outlined in the Endangered Species Act, a formal consultation with USFWS and NMFS is required before the Corps can make a final permit decision. Prior to making a final permit determination, the Corps is required to evaluate received responses provided by those appropriate agencies related to the proposed project for coordination and consultation under the Endangered Species Act, National Historic Preservation Act, Tribal Trust requirements, and other applicable laws.
Peggy Bebb
Public Affairs Specialist
Corporate Communications Office
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District
904-302-3474
peggy.s.bebb@usace.army.mil
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.
No street lights. No traffic lights. No infrastructure. Let’s spend 11 mil on a pier. You can’t make this up.
I will wager ($20) that FMB will have final approval and permitting to move forward (with modifications) no sooner than 2028. Any takers?
“Reconstruction of the historic Naples Pier is officially underway as of January 2026, following extensive damage from Hurricane Ian in 2022. The $23M+ project, led by Shoreline Foundation, Inc., involves demolishing the remaining damaged structure and building a taller, more resilient pier, with completion expected around July 2027.
Naples Daily News
Key Details on the New Naples Pier
Design & Durability: The new pier will be built at least 3 feet higher than the original and use stronger, larger pilings to withstand future storms.
Layout: The design keeps the traditional look, including the Polynesian roof style, but will not include a concession stand.
Timeline: Demolition of the old structure runs from January 2026 for approximately 4–6 months, followed by 14–18 months of construction.
Construction Progress: As of late February 2026, contractors are finishing the demolition phase and preparing to drive new pilings.”
I think the main holdup on this is that the plans for the pier don’t show it to be 17 stories tall, which is very confusing for the town council.
The town council has nothing to do with it. The “main holdup” is how much time USACE is taking on LeeCo’s permit application.