Fort Pierce rejects settlement offer in Little Jim Bait and Tackle lawsuit

FORT PIERCE, Fla. (CBS12) — Fort Pierce city commissioners voted to reject a proposed settlement in a lawsuit challenging the city’s plans for the Little Jim Bait and Tackle property.

The plaintiff, Fort Pierce resident Kevin Keene, argued the city should not move forward with a long-term lease until environmental, permitting and planning issues are addressed.

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Keene offered to drop the lawsuit if the city agreed to halt new leasing efforts for the Little Jim property until environmental issues are resolved and to support a voter referendum on future land-use decisions involving publicly owned waterfront property.

Instead, commissioners rejected the offer and voted to continue the legal fight.

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Little Jim Bait and Tackle has been a fixture on North Hutchinson Island for about 80 years. The lawsuit, filed in October 2025, seeks to stop the city from finalizing a lease for the property until it demonstrates the project meets all legal, environmental and public-interest requirements.