The county was seeking a coastal development permit to get started on a a multi-million-dollar project aimed at stopping the erosion of the park and provide for more recreational opportunities for beachgoers. Plans called for pile-driving between 250 and 330 piles from the coastline seaward to essentially widen the pier. The 500-foot long extension would attach to the existing 1,500-foot long pier. The addition timber or composite/fiberglass piles would be intended to slow down or stop the further erosion of the sand area.
The project, however, was opposed by many environmentalists, who favored a reconfiguration of the park, rather than widening the pier. Some felt that the additional pilings would contribute to beach and bluff erosion downshore.