Council says about 40 temporary-structure permit applications received; code to pursue violations for noncompliance

Town Manager Will McKinney told the Fort Myers Beach Town Council on Sept. 24 that the town had received approximately 40 applications for emergency temporary placement permits (ETPPs) as of the permit deadline the previous day.

McKinney said staff had reviewed roughly 15 packets, returned some for additional information, approved one extension and had several more ready for approval. He said applications continued to arrive and the town would keep processing them.

Staff clarified that properties without an approved extension by the deadline will receive notices of violation from code enforcement. Nancy Stuparich, the town attorney, said that a notice of violation triggers a compliance period during which additional documentation or requests for extensions could be considered, but any additional extensions would require council authorization because the council had set the original deadline.

Councilors expressed concern about the point and purpose of a deadline if staff will continue to accept applications; McKinney and Stuparich explained that notices of violation will issue but the town can still process late applications and, if council authorizes, consider extensions. Town staff said some property owners had voluntarily removed temporary structures before the deadline.

Action: staff will continue to process applications and move forward with notices of violations for structures still noncompliant; council directed staff to return if council action is needed to permit further extensions.