Final vote nears on protection of Manatee wetlands

Backers of each side of issue present their views of reducing wetland protections to state levels.

On Oct. 5, Manatee County commissioners will make their final decision on whether to remove language in the Comprehensive Plan that provides additional protections for wetlands.

If removed, wetland regulation in Manatee County will default to state standards, which are less protective than current regulations laid out in the Comprehensive Plan. The buffers between wetlands and construction would be reduced from 50 feet to 15 feet.

The Planning Commission voted 4-2 Aug. 10 to recommend to Manatee County Commissioners not to transmit the matter to the state legislature. On Aug. 17, the Board of County Commissioners passed the measure 6-1 with Commissioner George Kruse dissenting.

Both meetings caused residents to descend on the administration building to oppose the move. They packed the chambers and overflowed into a viewing area on the fifth floor. Most stated a reiteration of the same basic stance: Don’t remove the language.

Two main figures mostly represented the opposing sides during the commission meeting. County-hired consultant Daniel DeLisi and Abbey Tyrna, the executive director of Suncoast Waterkeeper.

Suncoast Waterkeeper is a watchdog organization with a mission to protect waterways within the suncoast. Tyrna holds a master’s degree in wetland science and management from Louisiana State University.

DeLisi is a certified land use planner with experience in zoning, land development regulations and water and environmental policies.