Manatee County commissioners give back former wetland buffers

Commissioner Jason Bearden said he made a mistake when he made a motion in August 2023 to reduce wetland buffers in Manatee County.

So on Sept. 10, he made a motion to instruct staff to bring back the appropriate Comprehensive Plan amendments needed for the county to once again require 50-foot wetland buffers.

The vote in August had moved the buffer requirement from 50 feet down to the state standard of between 15 and 25 feet.

“The citizens spoke,” Bearden said. “God gives grace to the humble and resists the proud, so if I made a mistake, I'll be the first to admit that I made a mistake.”