Charlotte County Commissioners Reject Manchester Cut-Through Project
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. — A proposal to create a new waterway through mangroves connecting the Manchester Waterway to the Myakka River has been rejected by the Charlotte County Commission.
Commissioners voted 4-0 on Tuesday, with Chairman Joe Tiseo recusing himself, to halt the controversial Manchester Cut-Through Project after years of studies, environmental reviews, and public debate.
The $27 million project was intended to improve boating access to the Myakka River and Charlotte Harbor and enhance water flow and circulation in the canal system. County staff said it could have provided a more direct route to open water and reduced stagnation in local waterways.
However, nearby residents voiced strong opposition, citing concerns about flooding, mangrove loss, and the cost of the project. Funding would have come through a special taxing district, known as a Municipal Service Taxing Unit (MSTU), paid by property owners in the surrounding neighborhoods.
A county survey sent to more than 7,000 homeowners showed 1,458 opposed the project, while 501 supported it.
With Tuesday’s vote, commissioners decided not to pursue design or permitting, effectively ending the proposal that has been under discussion since 2019.
