Daniel Delisi News Today

Manatee County commissioners began the process of cutting local wetland protections and handing oversight to the state with a controversial vote last year.

The Village of Estero has less than 200 acres of land available for development, which has prompted community leaders and residents to assess how best to handle the explosive growth in the village and surrounding areas.

County leaders will decide the future of local environmental protections on Thursday.

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

Wetlands provide a peaceful setting to Florida, but they also work to filter waterways and help protect local communities. However, Manatee County is moving closer to moving wetland protections within the county. 

Manatee County commissioners have voted to get rid of local protections for wetlands, and instead align with Florida's looser regulations. It's a move that's leaving many residents unhappy. 

Commissioners said they want to protect property rights and guard against overregulation.

Manatee County's planning commissioners voted 4-2 against making changes that would lower wetland protections to align with state standards.

Some residents are up in arms about proposed changes to sections of the land development codes in Manatee County, Florida.

A packed room full of Manatee County residents expressed their concerns over potential changes to wetlands protections.