Protect town, reject dune walkover
To the editor:
As a full-time resident of our barrier island I feel compelled to write this letter after reading the dune walkover articles in the Fort Myers Beach Observer and the Island Sand Paper. Please consider the following implications of approving this 298-foot dune walk over.
First — the owners state that the lagoon is not tidally connected to the Gulf and experiences no ebb and flow. Many of us can remember when it was connected. One big hurricane tide will connect it again. Much of the sand just north of the south end was re-nourished a few years ago. The owners claim that there is a continuation of the buildup of sand and I quote “This sand has grown every year. It has never stopped. It continues to grow.” Yes, for now and with tax dollars for re-nourishment! Well guess what — we are still losing sand on the south end. Look at the exposure of the pilings in front of the lagoon south of the Wyndham. Most were previously on dry land. In addition, one can see from the bridge that at high tides the sand at the south end point is starting to edge back toward the pine tree in front of the condominiums. Am I the only person who notices this? The sand in front of the Wyndham and south has eroded and the eastward movement of sand has buried the mangroves as it pushes back toward the now landlocked tidal pool. Mr. Collins states in the Observer “This is basically a sand bar.” “They are trying to build a bridge to a sandbar.” So correct! The whole island is a sand bar which is a migratory barrier island.
Second, they propose utilizing saltwater mitigation bank credits on Pine Island to offset the disturbance. What disturbance? Oh, the disturbance of the birds they say are not there? Where is there a beach on Pine Island similar to ours? While this mitigation may be legal in Florida, it is detrimental to our ecology. It doesn’t make sense to anyone but developers and all who gain by overdevelopment of the state. With our continuing water crisis we have seen the effects of overdevelopment.
My third point is to the statement which suggested that a different presentation was made to the LPA to obtain approval. Wow. Enough said about that, it speaks for itself. Also, our own town attorney stated that the LLC does not own this area. Although the owners are trying real hard to seem like regular “Joe Homeowner,” we must see through this smokescreen and realize they are an LLC. Once this is approved many others, including the numerous condominiums in that area may try to build walkovers.
The article states that the Audubon Society and environmentalists worry that the walkover would disturb the “critical wildlife area.” Hey, I’m an old ICU nurse, “critical” is not a term to be taken lightly! Critical means critical. Look at what the so-called environmentalists and the Audubon Society have done for the Everglades here in southwest Florida. Go out to the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. Drive through Big Cypress and Fakahatchee Strand. If the Audubon Society disagrees with this dune walkover then my vote is with them!
Lastly, and this is a real warning to our town, the new wave of very wealthy individuals and developers who are buying up this once quaint little town have the resources to hire lawyers and consultants to say and present whatever they want and fight their battles. Please preserve what is left of this town. Don’t be intimidated. They were smart enough to try and get a vote when Joanne was away. If we need to have a public hearing on this then so be it. I would hope that the town will also consider hearing from environmentalists, the Audubon Society and coastal engineering firms. Remember, we as a town re-nourished parts of this beach years ago. Council members need to be stewards for the good of the town, our environment and the taxpayer money that was spent on beach re-nourishment.
A 298-foot pier on the beach is just wrong. Please Ray Murphy and Bruce Butcher reconsider you vote for this project. Protect our town, beach and habitat. All of these little things are intertwined to keep our waters, fish and birds alive.
Nancy Walker
Fort Myers Beach