It’s been a long and tedious process that has generated much frustration among Charlotte County property owners, who say they feel held hostage by a little bird that arguably has more land rights than they do. This week, the standoff between man and bird moves closer to resolution.

On Friday, after years of working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on a compromise, county officials will unveil the final draft of Charlotte County’s habitat-conservation plan which, once officially adopted by the federal agency, will give the county a 30-year permit that drastically reduces the financial burdens to property owners looking to build on protected land, while still safeguarding the endangered Florida scrub jay.