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Lee County, town officials clear Bowditch Park boardwalk rebuild; LPA removes turtle‑season ban conditioned on state waiver
Summary
The LPA approved a special exception for Bowditch Park redevelopment — rebuilding boardwalks, pavers, sidewalks and benches seaward of the 1978 CCCL — with a condition removed that would have prohibited construction during turtle season if the developer obtains a state waiver and performs daily monitoring.
The Fort Myers Beach Local Planning Agency voted to approve a special exception allowing Lee County to rebuild damaged amenities at Bowditch Park, including boardwalks, paver decks, sidewalks and beach access structures seaward of the 1978 Coastal Construction Control Line.
Jason Smalley, senior planner for the town, told the LPA the request covers redevelopment of about 7 acres of an existing 17‑acre site and would restore roughly 179 feet of boardwalk, about 1,600 square feet of paver decks, approximately 1,370 square feet of sidewalk and 75 feet of boardwalk decking and beach access.
Lee County construction manager Ehab Gergis said the county will seek the necessary permits and coordinate daily monitoring if construction proceeds during turtle season. "We will be very careful, not interrupting any turtles or wildlife in this area," he said. County Commissioner David Mullica, who spoke in support, said county staff was working to speed permitting and contracting so construction could start early next year.
Staff originally included a condition barring construction during sea‑turtle nesting season. County staff requested the LPA remove that condition because the county plans to seek a state waiver (FDEP) and conduct the daily monitoring required by state permits. The LPA approved the special exception with the staff conditions but removed condition 3 prohibiting construction during turtle season; the motion specified that the change was contingent on the applicant obtaining the applicable state permits and performing the required monitoring.
The motion passed unanimously. County staff said they expect to issue a notice to proceed around January–February and estimated the Bowditch rebuild would take about eight months once work begins.
What to watch: Final approvals remain subject to necessary state and federal permits (FDEP and any Corps of Engineers approvals), and the LPA’s removal of the turtle‑season construction prohibition depends on the county obtaining the state waiver and following monitoring requirements.
