Consultant says Fort Myers Beach rebuilding will lift peak population to about 30,000; urges policy choices on housing and hotels

David Farmer, a consultant with Metro Forecasting, told the Fort Myers Beach Town Council on Sept. 11 that data gathered from property owners and hotels shows the island’s post‑Hurricane Ian rebuild is ongoing and likely to increase both visitor capacity and permanent population.

Farmer said his team counted 1,635 potential hotel rooms within the town’s political boundaries as of May 2025, with 1,484 “open for business and available for rent and use.” He presented two build‑out scenarios, saying the town could see about 3,100 to 3,100 hotel rooms in the more aggressive scenario and about 3,000 under a more modest scenario. “So you have about 15, 1600 hotel rooms existing and potential build out of just under 3,000 hotel rooms,” Farmer said.

The consultant estimated the town’s current peak‑season population potential at about 22,000 people based on units, bedrooms…