INDIALANTIC, Fla. — Some residents in Indialantic are criticizing a city plan to remove sea grapes from the ocean shoreline.

The proposal would replace them with sea oats, much like what other beachside cities in South Florida have done.

Many residents say they are worried that removing the sea grapes will leave dunes at risk for increased beach erosion.

The amount of feedback led the town to remove discussion from the agenda of Wednesday’s council meeting.

Steve Bolin, who walks Wavecrest Avenue along the Atlantic several times a day, likes to take in the scenery, which includes the sea grapes that help protect the dunes.

“It’s the catalyst as to why the dunes look the way they do today, the safety and security of this piece of beach," he said. "If you go up and down this beach, it can’t get much better than this."

He and his wife moved to Indialantic from Texas 10 years ago, and are among those concerned eradicating the sprawling bushes would extensively damage the dunes.

“Pulling all the roots out of here, pulling all the sea grapes out of the dunes, is just going to destabilize the dunes,” he said.

Town manager Mike Casey said they’ve gotten requests from condo owners to remove the sea grapes and replace them with other plants to sustain the dune line.

Now they are asking the Florida Department of Environmental Protection for guidance.

“If there are other types of sustainability for the dune line, the planting and stuff, we wouldn’t take it out without permission from the state,” Casey said.

Casey said the idea will be put on hold until they hear back from state officials with an environmental study.

Bolin is confident town leaders are hearing their voices to find a better solution.

“I think the city is up to listening to what they (we) have to say,” he said.