Englewood and Manasota Key residents packed Charlotte County’s Zoning and Planning Board meeting this week, signs in hand and ready to speak out, only to learn their agenda wasn’t even up for discussion. County officials quickly informed the crowd, despite online buzz and speculation, that the controversial Manasota Key Resort project would not be discussed at the meeting.
The crowd remained undeterred. Their message was clear: stop the rezoning and protect local wildlife. The proposed plan, according to public records, involves building 246 new resort units, plus bars, restaurants, and dock facilities, right next to Stump Pass Beach State Park. On top of that, developers want permission to build 50 more residential units on an adjacent property.
So far, county officials have approved a site plan review. Developers are waiting on a zoning permit for the residential units. But neighbors worry the project threatens protected wildlife and could make local flooding worse. Many are also concerned about state laws designed to prevent rezoning on fragile barrier islands.
Carol McCory, an Englewood resident, wrote to local leaders with her concerns: “This beach is sandwiched between two formally protected resource designations. It’s served by one road and a storm-damaged bridge, and it sits in Evacuation Zone A in a county with no certified Red Cross shelter. Tripling the density here doesn’t just call for a quick traffic study or a waived environmental review. We deserve a thorough, transparent process. The people who live here, the visitors, and the local wildlife deserve better before you make a decision.”
Other neighbors echoed those worries, saying the development would erode Manasota Key’s natural beauty and disrupt the environment.
Karen Dega Martin, who helped organize the protest, put it simply: “The citizens of Englewood’s peace, sanctity, and safety should and must come before any greedy business agendas. It is out of character and inconsistent with Englewood Old Florida Charm and Natural Beach Character. It is also inconsistent with the County’s comprehensive goals for Coastal High Hazard Areas.”
When will the resort proposal actually show up on the board’s agenda? County officials say they don’t know. For now, residents show no sign of backing down, and they’re committed to opposing the development and keeping the pressure on.
Click here for the Charlotte County’s Zoning and Planning Board website.
