Fort Myers Beach gives approval to private boardwalk connecting to water

The Town of Fort Myers Beach approved a resolution to build a dune walkover structure.

The project is a privately-owned pursuit that will now go over public land.

Yells came from town members as the vote was approved during a meeting on Monday.

The boardwalk begins on someone’s private property and goes over a wildlife habitat and connects the property to the beach.

Conservationists at the meeting became upset when the town approved the boardwalk.

“I said we just lost our beach. We just sold out. We had an opportunity to make Fort Myers Beach a wildlife area to be proud of. One that we could brag that we had nesting endangered birds. And instead, what we did was say that if people feel that it’s to their personal benefit to walk through the nesting areas, they may do so,” said Mary Rose Spalletta, who spoke out against the boardwalk.

The council, as a whole, is not convinced there is a guaranteed harm to the wildlife there.

Two council members, Bill Veach and Vice Mayor Jim Atterholt, voted against it.

Karen Woodson and John King said yes. It came down to Mayor Dan Allers who voted yes.