BRADENTON — Manatee County Commissioners voted to release 10 acres of conservation easement to Benderson Development during a land use meeting on Nov. 7.

Local environmentalists opposed the measure, saying the release meant the land previously recognized as conservation lands could now be developed.

Benderson Development originally submitted a request to the county to release nearly 55 acres of conservation easements, including wetland buffer areas.

Benderson’s previous request was presented to the commissioners on October 17 but failed to receive approval, with only two commissioners voting in favor: Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge and Board Chair Mike Rahn.

Commissioners received 15 pages of public comment opposing approval of Benderson’s revised request before Thursday’s meeting.

Executive Director of Suncoast Waterkeeper Dr. Abbey Tyrna addressed the board in person, “Regardless of the number of acres, 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.”

Manatee County citizen and environmental activist Mark Vanderee provided comments by phone, cautioning the commissioners that approval could set a precedent for conservation lands to be reversible.

An engineer with Benderson Development stressed that the request was not for development but for flood mitigation projects that could improve drainage in the area….

Tyrna, an environmental and wetland scientist, told commissioners that straightening creeks does not alleviate or lessen flooding but makes it worse.

With the request modified to release a lesser number of acres from their designation as conservation lands, the commission approved the revised request in a 4-2 vote, with Commissioners Jason Bearden and George Kruse remaining in opposition.

Click the video below to replay the item’s presentation, board discussion, public comment, and vote.