MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — After slight changes, Manatee County commissioners approved a request from a major developer to release conservation easements within the Cooper Creek watershed.
In a 4 to 2 vote, the commission passed resolution R-24-21, which allows Benderson Development to potentially develop parts of wetlands set aside in that area. Local environmental activists say the move is concerning and also doesn't help address flooding concerns.
The developer originally requested to release about 55 acres in this area, but after pushback, it was reduced to 9 acres for approval.
Critics said releasing these easements reduces the public benefit and reverses protections of very limited suburban wetland habitats.
"The Crocodiles and the birds, and everybody needs space, and we're losing it," said Jim Ongena, a Cooper Creek neighbor.
According to the Suncoast Water Keeper, more of the wetlands Ongena mentions will be lost after the commissioners' approval.
"Regardless of the number of acreage, conservation easements are there for perpetuity, they are a protection of our wild lands and in Cooper Creek watershed, there's not much wildland left so every little bit counts," said Abbey Tyrna, Suncoast Waterkeeper.
According to critics, this sets a concerning trend and sends the wrong message.
"Now that developers can see that they can get away with having them removed and developed on — potentially — that's a very bad precedent for the overall health of the waterways in the county," said Mark Vandry, an East Manatee County neighbor.
"They can come back and keep asking for more just on a bite-by-bite scale and not on the full 55-acre scale," Tyrna said.
There's also a concern that potentially developing on the wetlands will only compound flooding issues.
"The water doesn't have a chance to percolate and it just runs right off, so if you get rid of your wetlands, you're going to have nothing but severe flooding problems," Vandry said.
Despite the resolution, local environmentalists urge residents to still send letters to their commissioners to express themselves on the issue.
"We need more innovative solutions that have an ecologic lens in mind," Tyrna said.
"There's got to be a limit to how many people and how many parking lots, and how many places can be built before you reach a tipping point," Ongena said.
10 Tampa Bay reached out to Benderson Development for a response to concerns raised by neighbors and local environmentalists and have not yet heard back.