Manatee commissioners consider building moratorium as residents voice concerns over development

Reese Parrish has lived in his community in Parrish off of County Road 675 for 60 years, and his piece of Old Florida continues to change. 

"We bought land here and built here because of what it was. In the country, good living that you like," he said. 

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Why you should care:

As developments have continued to spring up, though, Reese said he had concerns about the impact on his land. 

His draining ditch that was dug out by the previous property owner should be dry this time of year, but two weeks ago something changed. 

"The water started trickling in, first it was just a trickle, then it was a full on river, and it’s getting worse and worse," said Dalton Nelson, another nearby Parrish resident. 

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Water began pooling where it shouldn't be after that, and Reese and Nelson believe it's coming from subdivisions draining ponds or lakes for new construction. 

"My concern is that if people keep pumping water on us, come rainy season, where will it go? We got no place for it to go, because the ditch will be full," said Reese. 

Big picture view:

Reese's 54 acres of land went underwater during Tropical Storm Debby and then with Hurricanes Helene and Milton. He has fears that it could enter his home with at least three new subdivisions going up nearby. 

That’s a concern Manatee County Commissioner Dr. Bob McCann shares. 

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"The question is, do we need to build anymore," he said at the Manatee County Commission meeting on January 28.

What's next:

McCann has called for a building moratorium for District 5, which includes Lakewood Ranch. 

"The builders want to build houses, they want to put those houses in before we have roads, that area didn’t flood while it was raining" said McCann. 

As the Manatee County Commission weighs the moratorium, Parrish residents ask that they’re not forgotten about as well.

"The big concern is with all this new added water and paved roads, where will the water go? Will it go in this ditch or will it keep going up, going up and flood someone’s house out?" said Nelson. 

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