FORT MYERS BEACH, Fla.- Hundreds of opponents and supporters of a development plan packed into a meeting over the future of Southwest Florida's most famous beach town.
The developer, Grand Resorts, wants three beachfront resorts: 519 rooms, nine restaurants, three beach access points, public restroom, and a seawall, that many beach residents fear will only make erosion worse.
Fox 4 took those concerns right to the CEO of Grand Resorts, Tom Torgerson, who renamed the seawall idea a "coastal protection system."
He says it's more like an armor wall, that would actually fight erosion because it includes an expanded dune system and a program for beach re-nourishment.
"It will enhance turtle habitat, it will enlarge the beach and make sure the beach remains a significant scale."
While some still don't want to see the project move forward, other longtime residents, like Miffie Greer, say change is tough, but they're ready;
"This little island can't remain isolated from the rest of the world. As much as we love it, and it would be nice to put a cocoon around it, that's not reality. And I don't think it should be."
