The rebuilt store, now called Store #2091, will welcome shoppers at 1500 Placida Rd Suite C, right in Charlotte County. It’s not just the old market with a facelift; they’re opening with about 55,000 square feet, plus a pharmacy and a brand-new liquor store.

Last September, the original Publix, which had stood for 33 years, closed its doors for good. They demolished it entirely and planned to build it again from scratch. 

This project isn’t just about the market itself. They redesigned the parking lot and built a separate liquor store right next to the main building. When November rolls around, Publix will offer a modern, expanded space and services, ready for a whole new era.

The post A Fresh Start at Merchants Crossing: New 55,000-Sq-Ft Publix Set to Open Early November appeared first on Englewood Review.

On Thursday, October 15, 2026, TLC held a ribbon-cutting at their brand-new spot: 12267 S. Access Rd. Tammy Tieu, the founder, and Laura Davidson, the director, did the honors.

TLC is a non-profit dedicated to making sure every child gets affordable and effective help for dyslexia. They believe that every kid deserves to love reading. Their approach is all about building on what kids already know, personalizing learning to fit each student, and sparking a lifelong passion for books.

Curious, excited, or just want to say hello? Call 941-473-2266. Or click here for more information.

The post Turning Pages, Transforming Lives: The Literacy Center for Dyslexia Celebrates Grand Opening of Vibrant New Home appeared first on Englewood Review.

Her recent work paints a clear picture. She’s supervised multiple departments, set up operational policies, strengthened local partnerships, and launched marketing strategies that got people talking. She helped build out a $10.2 million budget and managed a fundraising portfolio that hit $2.1 million a year, with grants, partnerships, business and individual donors, plus special events. Kellie’s focus has always been on making a real impact, not just for organizations but for the community itself.

In 2025, she took home the United Way of Charlotte County named the Bella Donna Award from the Charlotte-DeSoto Building Industry Association as a Woman of Distinction. She also held leadership roles with Leadership Englewood, serving as Class Vice-Chair in 2024–2025 and Class Chair in 2025–2026.

Kellie’s roots in Englewood run deep. In 2024, she was involved with Charlotte County Habitat for Humanity, which was named Non-Profit of the Year by both the Englewood Chamber and Punta Gorda Chamber. She’s served as a conference presenter, a hospital advisory council member, a disaster recovery volunteer, and a long-time community volunteer.

Besides her success in nonprofits, Kellie’s business experience is just as impressive. She has organised and run office tasks, managed financial reports, created HR programs from the beginning, organised payroll and legal requirements, and worked closely with company leaders to plan for expansion.

Now as Executive Director, Kellie will oversee Chamber operations, develop member engagement, build strong ties with community partners, and drive initiatives that support economic growth in Englewood.

Chamber President Peter Jennings summed it up: “We’re thrilled to have Kellie taking over the role, and we look forward to the energy, ideas, and leadership she’ll bring. Her professional experience brings valuable skills and perspective as we support local businesses and strengthen our community.”

The Chamber is excited for what’s next: stronger connections, advocacy for local businesses, and keeping Englewood’s business community fun and thriving.

Click here for more information about the Englewood Chamber.

The post Englewood Chamber Names Kellie Dunson Allen as New Executive Director appeared first on Englewood Review.

Edwards Lifesciences announced they implanted their TRIFORMIS RESILIA tricuspid valve and ECLIPTIS left atrial appendage exclusion system together in one patient for the first time anywhere on the planet.

Heart valve surgery isn’t simple. Many patients have other heart issues, and the risk for complications jumps. Dr. Hoffberger, Sarasota Memorial’s chief of cardiovascular surgery, emphasized the huge benefit here, one surgery, two major fixes: “We replaced a bad valve and dealt with a prominent cause of stroke, so there was no need for multiple operations or drawn-out recovery.”

The two devices solve distinct problems. The TRIFORMIS RESILIA, FDA-approved in May 2026, is the first surgical implant made specifically for tricuspid valve replacement. Before its arrival, surgeons had to adapt mitral valves, since there was nothing designed for the tricuspid. However, the device is tailored to the anatomy of the tricuspid valve and uses advanced tissue technology to resist calcium buildup, which often causes replacement valves to fail.

The ECLIPTIS system, FDA-cleared in June 2026, tackles a different problem: closing the left atrial appendage, a little pouch where dangerous blood clots can form in patients with atrial fibrillation. Those clots are notorious for triggering strokes, making LAA closure systems crucial in modern heart care.

Dr. Hoffberger wasn’t the only surgeon making news that day. Two colleagues from Sarasota Memorial’s First Physicians Group, Dr. Jeffrey Sell and Dr. Kristen Walker, also performed their own combined cardiac procedures, implanting Edwards’ new stroke-prevention device in two other patients undergoing heart surgery.

These innovations drive Sarasota Memorial’s reputation for advanced cardiac care. The hospital takes a team-based approach: cardiac surgeons, interventional cardiologists, electrophysiologists, and other specialists collaborate to tackle complex heart conditions. From open-heart to minimally invasive, robotic procedures, and advanced valve replacements, they offer a wide range of treatments.

Sarasota Memorial Health Care System 

Is the region’s largest medical center, delivering comprehensive care across Southwest Florida. With roughly 2,500 physicians and advanced providers, 11,000 employees, and over 2 million annual patient visits, its network stretches from Sarasota and Venice, where two full-service hospitals stand, to a third hospital rising in North Port, along with ERs, a rehab hospital, skilled nursing, outpatient clinics, and urgent care centers. 

Founded back in 1925, Sarasota Memorial’s flagship campus also hosts the Brian D. Jellison Cancer Institute, Cornell Behavioral Health Pavilion, and Kolschowsky Research and Education Institute. Both Sarasota Memorial Hospital-Sarasota and Sarasota Memorial Hospital-Venice have earned top 5-Star ratings from CMS, and SMH-Sarasota is the only Florida hospital, and one of just 11 nationwide, to achieve a perfect 5-Star score every year since CMS launched its federal ratings in 2016.

Click here for more information.

The post Sarasota Hospital Celebrates Groundbreaking, World-First Heart Procedure appeared first on Englewood Review.

The city wants an experienced operator who can match the park’s energy, think waterfront views, family-friendly activities, and regular events. Jaycee Park isn’t just any park. It’s got a new boardwalk overlook, an inclusive playground, a splash pad, a band shell, sand volleyball, and plenty of shaded picnic space. The park feels brand new, and they’re ready for someone who can add great food to the mix.

If you want in, submit your proposal by Nov. 5, 2:00 p.m. No exceptions for late entries. Grab all the details, requirements, and submission steps on the City of Cape Coral’s procurement portal.

Click here for more information.

The post Calling All Culinary Stars: Cape Coral Wants You to Bring the Flavor to Jaycee Park’s Brand-New Boardwalk appeared first on Englewood Review.

S&H Paving delivers top-notch residential and commercial paving across Englewood, FL, and nearby areas. They care about their work, pay attention to the details, and always keep their clients front and center. If you need a quote for your next project, just call them. They’re ready to help.

Honesty and transparency matter to S&H Paving, and they provide clear, detailed estimates and keep communication open, making sure your project sticks to the budget while still delivering quality.

Ready for asphalt patching? Skid stair work? Commercial or residential paving? S&H Paving will handle it all, no matter the size. Call 941-280-7101 and let them make your next paving project happen.

Click here for more information.

The post Paving the Way to Success: S&H Paving Cuts the Ribbon on New Englewood Location appeared first on Englewood Review.

Dr. Kim brings everything you’d expect from someone with her background: discipline, compassion, and genuine integrity, not just in her military service but in the way she cares for her patients every day.

Wondering what acupuncture is all about? Traditional Chinese medicine uses acupuncture by inserting very fine needles into specific points on your body. The goal is to stimulate your nerves, muscles, and connective tissues. It’s used for pain relief, reducing inflammation, and restoring your natural balance. Traditional theory talks about unblocking meridians to balance energy (Qi), while Western science points to the central nervous system getting a boost and the release of natural painkillers like endorphins.

Here’s what Dr. Kim has to say: “I would like to thank my husband, David, my family, friends and volunteers for all their support and prayers for my new business. Thanks to Tia DePalma at Doll Aesthetics for housing me while the space was under construction. Thanks to Dearborn Professional Center, LLC for allowing me the opportunity and believing in my vision. There’s nothing that acupuncture can’t treat. I’m a VA Community Care Preferred Provider. Acupuncture is a covered VA benefit.”

Call 941-812-0777 for a free consultation.

Click here for more information.

The post Ribbon Cut, Doors Open! Dr. Kim Marino-Micheel Brings Compassionate Care to Dearborn Street appeared first on Englewood Review.

Josh Mazza steps into his new role with over 21 years of experience in human capital management. He works with small and mid-sized businesses to craft employee benefit strategies that cut costs, run smoothly, and take care of people. Josh has lived in Englewood since 2019 and gives back through Englewood Area Youth Baseball.

Aiden Howard, a U.S. Navy veteran, joins the team as an Insurance Advisor. He helps individuals and families with health insurance, the ACA Marketplace, and financial and retirement planning. Aiden prides himself on integrity, getting to know each client personally, and focusing on their unique goals.

“We’re excited to welcome Josh and Aiden to Wampler Varner,” said Jonathan Varner, Owner of Wampler Varner Insurance Group. “They bring diverse strengths to our team, but both share our core values: putting people first, building genuine relationships, and always doing what’s right for our clients.”

With Josh and Aiden on board, Wampler Varner strengthens its commitment to serving businesses, individuals, and families, all while keeping the personal touch and relationship-focused service the agency has delivered to Southwest Florida for over 40 years.

Wampler Varner Insurance Group is a family-owned, independent insurance agency serving individuals, families, and businesses across Southwest Florida. Learn more at wamplerins.com.

The post Wampler Varner Insurance Group Expands Powerhouse Team with Two New Team Members appeared first on Englewood Review.

The Sarasota County Public Hospital Board signed off on the almost $60 million deal on Tuesday. There’s one catch: SMH first needs to work with Manatee County leaders to rezone the land and hammer out development for the site. This isn’t the only property SMH has its eye on. Just this July, the board approved acquiring a 10-acre parcel nearby, giving direct access to SR 64, making expansion even easier.

“This is the kind of forward thinking that’s kept Sarasota Memorial strong for over a hundred years,” said SMH CEO David Verinder. “Building healthcare infrastructure takes time—years, in fact. By locking in key locations now, we’re not just boosting capacity for today. We’re making sure our growing population keeps easy access to care for generations to come.”

Development will happen gradually, shaped by what the community needs and the necessary regulatory green lights. First up, pending all approvals, SMH wants to put up a freestanding emergency department on the smaller, 10-acre site. After that, they’ll add physician practices, both primary care and specialties, plus pediatric services, imaging, labs, and other buildings that’ll eventually create a full hospital campus.

Why expand in Manatee? 

The numbers speak for themselves. The SMH service area, Manatee, Sarasota, Charlotte, and DeSoto counties, has seen a steep uptick in demand, and Manatee County is leading the growth, with a nearly 10% population jump expected over five years. Neighborhoods along the State Road 64 corridor, Parrish, Palmetto, and Lakewood Ranch, are expanding the fastest.

The push isn’t just about future trends. Manatee residents made up over 185,000 patient visits in 2025, about a quarter of SMH’s total. And since 2020, their Heritage Harbour outpatient facility has seen patient volume more than double. By growing in Manatee, SMH can ease crowding at its Sarasota campus, where beds, parking, and emergency services are often operating at capacity. Bringing routine and specialty care closer to Manatee residents means fewer folks have to travel to Sarasota for services they could get at home, freeing up space at the flagship for patients who truly need intensive, complex care.

There’s another piece: workforce. Nearly 3,500 SMH employees, around 30%, live in Manatee. The move not only supports healthcare needs but also creates jobs and shorter commutes for staff. As the region’s largest employer, SMH recognizes the connections between where it delivers care, where its workers live, and the future of both.

SMH CEO David Verinder sums it up like this: “Community lines don’t decide where people seek care, or where healthcare professionals want to work or live. Our job is to plan for the communities we serve now, and the ones that are still growing.”

Hospital Board Chair Kevin Cooper says making land purchases before growth hits full stride is part of the board’s mission to keep healthcare ahead of demand. He notes SMH’s history: they bought the Laurel Road property well before rolling out SMH-Venice in 2021 and picked up land for SMH-North Port back in 2007, years ahead of that hospital’s projected 2028 opening. 

Investing in Manatee now, he says, puts SMH in the right spot to serve a swelling patient base in northern communities.

“The Sarasota Memorial mission is about delivering outstanding, innovative care. That idea is at the heart of all our future plans and investments,” Cooper says. “We want to protect access to top-tier healthcare for everyone in our region.”

It’s important to note that SMH is still the only public, community-owned health system in the area. SMH funds all of its expansion and out-of-county projects with operating revenue and intends for them to sustain themselves financially. Sarasota County allocates a small portion of public tax money, less than 5% of SMH’s revenue, only to local county facilities and care.

Sarasota Memorial Moving Forward with New Outpatient Cancer Center in Venice

Sarasota Memorial is pressing ahead with plans for a new outpatient cancer center in Venice, only a few months after unveiling the Milman-Kover Cancer Pavilion at its main Sarasota campus. This new facility is the next step in widening the reach of the Brian D. Jellison Cancer Institute, bringing advanced cancer care closer to residents in south Sarasota County and nearby areas.

SMH began the Jellison Cancer Institute in 2020 so patients, families, and medical staff wouldn’t need to travel far for the latest treatments, research studies, and reliable support services. The new center will rise on Curry Lane, right next to the Sarasota Memorial Hospital-Venice campus. 

Flagship acquired the 5-acre site in January 2025, and SMH is now leasing and finishing out the building. Once complete, it’ll offer a range of outpatient services, including specialized cancer and endoscopy care.

With this expansion, SMH aims to create a seamless system where cancer patients can get everything they need: diagnosis, treatment, support, close to home. “Cancer treatment often means juggling lots of appointments with different specialists over many months,” said Kelli Dancer, vice president of the Jellison Cancer Institute. “By building out these services in Venice, we’re making it easier for people here to get the care they need. It’s part of our commitment to bring top-level cancer care to everyone in our region.”

The Jellison Cancer Institute has quickly grown into one of Florida’s busiest cancer programs, serving thousands of local patients with a full team of experts, advanced technology, research, and strong support systems. The impact is clear: before the Institute opened, about half of local cancer patients had to leave town for advanced care. Now, that number has dropped to roughly 30 percent, and SMH isn’t stopping there. The goal: allow even more patients to stay close to home for the best possible treatment.

Dancer puts it plainly: “When patients can get high-quality cancer care right here, they spend more time healing and less time on the road. The Venice center is a key move in our plan to deliver a comprehensive cancer program for our growing community.”

Plans call for the first floor to house a radiation oncology center, along with clinics for medical, surgical, and radiation oncology physicians. Patients will also find infusion services, advanced imaging, and supportive care all in the same building. The third floor will accommodate the endoscopy center and offices for SMH’s gastroenterologists, while the second floor will serve future growth.

Site preparation is already underway. Once they approve the permits and construction plans, Flagship will erect the building shell, and SMH’s design and construction team will complete the specialized spaces. They plan to open in 2028.

The Brian D. Jellison Cancer Institute at Sarasota Memorial

The Jellison Cancer Institute covers the full spectrum of cancer care, from prevention and early detection through treatment, clinical research, and long-term support. The Institute includes an 8-story inpatient and surgical tower and a 7-story outpatient pavilion at the Sarasota campus, an outpatient Radiation Oncology Center on University Parkway, and soon, a new cancer center next to the Venice hospital. To learn more, visit smh.com/cancer.

Sarasota Memorial Health Care System

It’s the region’s leading medical network, making up the biggest employer in Sarasota County. Nearly 2,500 physicians and advanced providers, 11,000 staff, and two million patients visit each year. The system boasts two full-service hospitals in Sarasota and Venice, with a third on the way in North Port, plus rehab, skilled nursing, urgent care, and specialty doctor practices dotted across the region. The main Sarasota campus, founded in 1925, is also home to the Brian D. Jellison Cancer Institute, Cornell Behavioral Health Pavilion, and Kolschowsky Research and Education Institute. Both hospital locations routinely claim the top 5-star quality rating from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. In fact, SMH-Sarasota is the only hospital in Florida, and one of just eleven in the country, to have earned that perfect score every year since the CMS program launched in 2016.

Another major development at SMH is that CEO David Verinder has taken on the role of chair of the Safety Net Hospital Alliance of Florida for a second term. He’ll hold the post for two years, leading a 14-member board packed with CEOs from top teaching, public, children’s, and intensive care hospitals. The Alliance stands up for hospitals that serve Florida’s most vulnerable patients, providing critical and specialized services while training future doctors.

In this role, Verinder isn’t just helping steer policy; he’s shaping the statewide conversation on how to fund and sustain quality care for everyone in Florida. Safety net hospitals like SMH, though making up just 10% of Florida’s hospitals, carry the largest load in caring for underserved communities, reinvesting everything back into local services, people, and innovations.

“Florida’s safety-net hospitals shoulder an enormous responsibility to make sure people get care—no matter what,” Verinder said. “I’m proud to once again lead the Alliance and work alongside hospital leaders who are every bit as committed to our mission. It’s about making sure we have strong, sustainable health systems long into the future.”

Verinder has spent the last 12 years as SMH’s President and CEO, after earlier stints as COO and CFO. With 30 years in healthcare leadership, including as past Alliance chair and long-time board member, he brings deep, practical expertise to the job.

SMH is the region’s medical anchor and a cornerstone employer. Founded nearly a century ago, Sarasota Memorial has grown into a two-hospital system (with a third coming soon), numerous ERs, outpatient clinics, and a roster of advanced specialty centers. Their record matches their commitment, and its back-to-back 5-star ratings say it all.

Click here for more information about SMH.

The post Sarasota Memorial Goes Big: A $60M, 120-Acre Bet on Southwest Florida’s Future appeared first on Englewood Review.

A private proposal spearheaded by Neal’s entity, Economic Stimulus Working Group LLC, to construct a county road extension has drawn fierce opposition from nearly 2,000 residents. The dispute highlights a familiar paradox in Neal’s long career: his dual legacy as a prolific builder and a pioneer of early state environmental protections.

The Legislative and Development Legacy

Neal’s career began in 1970 with the sale of a single home for $19,800. Over the next 56 years, Sarasota-based Neal Communities, co-founded with his late father, Paul Neal, expanded significantly. According to corporate data, the company has completed 147 projects across more than 100 neighborhoods, housing an estimated 55,000 residents in Southwest Florida.

Parallel to his business pursuits, Neal served in the Florida Legislature, first in the House of Representatives (1974–1978) and later in the State Senate (1978–1986). As chair of the Senate Natural Resources and Appropriations Committees, Neal represented a broad district encompassing Manatee, Hardee, DeSoto, Highlands, Okeechobee, and Glades counties.

During his legislative tenure, Neal authored Florida’s first Comprehensive Wetland Act (1983) and the Comprehensive Hazardous Waste Act, designed to safeguard the state’s groundwater. He also co-sponsored the bill establishing the Estero Bay Aquatic Preserve. His corporate profile highlights various civic contributions, including land donations for the Neal Preserve in Bradenton and national recognition via the 2024 Hearthstone BUILDER Humanitarian Award for environmental stewardship.

The Manasota Beach Road Controversy

Despite his legislative record, Neal’s development practices frequently draw scrutiny from local conservation and neighborhood groups. The latest flashpoint involves a proposed extension of Manasota Beach Road.

Unlike typical subdivisions built by Neal Communities, this project is a proposed Sarasota County thoroughfare. Neal’s Economic Stimulus Working Group LLC utilized a Florida statutory provision allowing private entities to submit unsolicited proposals for public infrastructure, provided they demonstrate public benefit, cost efficiency, and integration into the county system.

The proposed project seeks to complete a missing western segment of Manasota Beach Road, establishing an east-west corridor connecting Englewood Road to Wellen Park, North Port, and River Road. Neal has maintained that his private proposal offers a faster, more cost-effective alternative to the county’s original Keyway Road plan. To support this, he cited past public-private partnerships under his management, including the U.S. 301 expansion and the Fort Hamer Bridge project, which he stated finished $8 million and $14 million under budget, respectively. 

In April 2025, Sarasota County Commissioners voted to advance Neal’s plan and initiated steps to remove Keyway Road from the county’s major thoroughfare list.

Community Pushback and Legal Hurdles

The decision triggered immediate community resistance. Organized under the group “Oppose Manasota Beach Road,” approximately 2,000 residents raised concerns regarding heightened flood risks, increased traffic, noise pollution, and the disruption of local wildlife habitats along a rural dirt road that currently averages fewer than a dozen vehicles per day.

Sarasota County officials presented a near-final design during a public forum in February 2026, with construction initially projected for that spring. However, the project was stalled by a legal challenge.

Kelly Bauman, an Englewood resident owning a 10-acre parcel on East Manasota Beach Road, filed a formal administrative petition challenging the environmental permit issued by the Southwest Florida Water Management District. The district referred the dispute to the Florida Division of Administrative Hearings in June 2026.

In August 2026, State Administrative Law Judge Suzanne Van Wyck denied a motion to dismiss the case but narrowed the scope of the upcoming hearing. Concurrently, project engineers modified the permit design to incorporate dry retention ponds and reduce direct wetland impacts.

A final hearing was scheduled for late September 2026. However, on September 9, Bauman, who was representing herself pro se, filed a motion to withdraw her legal challenge. In an interview with the Englewood REVIEW, Bauman cited the prohibitive demands of navigating complex legal discovery without legal counsel.

“It’s extremely difficult to make this motion,” Bauman explained. “I just don’t have the time to review discovery and prep for a final trial. At this point, I can’t properly represent myself or the other witnesses given the rushed timeline.” 

With the formal administrative challenge withdrawn, the primary legal hurdle to the roadway’s construction has been cleared. The Englewood REVIEW, which has reported on the infrastructure dispute since early 2026, has reached out to Pat Neal for a comprehensive response to the community’s ongoing environmental and traffic concerns.

The following interview was conducted entirely through email correspondence. The subject’s responses have been preserved in their original form and are presented here without edits or modifications of any kind.

ER
Mr. Neal, your team has noted that this extension has been on the Sarasota County master plan for over 30 years. Why is now the critical moment to build it, and how does it specifically solve the current gridlock on Tamiami Trail and River Road?

Pat Neal
The whole idea of transportation planning is to create “connectivity”. 

There must be connections between communities other than “major thoroughfares” like US-41 (and, of course, there is no capability to extend US-41 to 10 lanes to accommodate the additional traffic to the Placida Peninsula).

As you say, Manasota Beach Road has been on the Comprehensive Plan for 30 years. It will relieve traffic on US-41 and provide east-west connectivity between Wellen Park and Indiana Avenue.

ER
Critics argue this road primarily serves as a fast-tract corridor for residents of your Wellen Park community to get to Manasota Key Beach. How do you respond to the claim that public funds are being used to benefit a specific private development footprint?

Pat Neal
We have no community which is or will be located on Manasota Beach Road.

The pressure for its creation has to do with the two new schools under construction, to provide a link for cars, pedestrians, and bicycles on the Manasota Beach connection, for the 3,100 students (and parents and teachers) who will be served by the two new schools, and the $228 million school board investment.

ER
Community opposition groups claim the road could eventually handle up to 35,000 cars a day. Is that an accurate projection for this stretch, and what will the actual impact look like for surrounding neighborhoods?

Pat Neal
We believe that this two-lane road and M.U.R.T. will serve roughly 5,500 cars per day, and at peak about 9,000 cars per day.

ER
The Sarasota County Commission unanimously approved a $15 million contribution for you to construct this extension. Can you break down why the county is financing this infrastructure rather than the developer absorbing the entirety of the cost?

Pat Neal
This road, like almost all roads on a thoroughfare plan were placed before the adjacent development.

Typically, developers build roads serving their development (and Wellen Park has done so). This portion of Manasota Beach Road serves no particular development, and is external to Wellen Park, thus a Sarasota County road being financed with Sarasota County resources.

ER
For residents who feel their local tax dollars are being misappropriated to build a thoroughfare through what is currently a quiet, rural area, what is your direct message about the long-term return on investment for the average Sarasota taxpayer?

Pat Neal
Even though Wellen Park is being built at roughly 30% lower than it’s approved density, the public interest is served by a connection to State Road 776 (Indiana Avenue) by routes other than those at the extreme north portion of Wellen Park (US-41) and off-site roads south of Wellen Park (in this case, Dearborn)… there is a public interest in creating roads to serve the residents within and without Wellen Park.

The return on investment is a 15 to 20 minute time (and gas) savings for trips from Wellen Park to Englewood and locations south of Englewood.

Environmental Impact

ER
Opponents describe the unpaved portion of the road as a slice of ‘wild Florida’ surrounded by pristine wildlife habitats. What environmental mitigation steps are being taken to ensure that extending this road won’t exacerbate local flooding or destroy native habitats?

Pat Neal
State law requires that environmental impacts be mitigated, and mitigated to meet the public interest test (that the environmental impacts, being mitigated prove to be in the public interest).

This means that the mitigation provided exceeds the water quality or habitat impacts of any new development (and the Manasota Beach Road was able to meet this standard or test in the litigation by Kelly Bauman and her group as the benefits of the mitigation exceed the impacts).

The detention ponds will store additional water quantities and reduce flooding (as required and proven in the hydrologic model).

ER
You previously mentioned that residents were surprised by the lack of a vegetative buffer between their homes and the proposed highway. Have your construction plans been modified to include better barriers, noise reduction, or landscaping to protect existing homeowners?

Pat Neal
I attempted to meet with the citizens who live on West Manasota Beach Road in the public hearings in April 2025, August 2025 and elsewhere, in public workshops held subsequent to that, by stopping by to see them, knocking on their doors, sending them letters… a total of 22 separate attempts to speak with them (without success).

They refused to speak with me, and unlike the Sarasota National residents, they took no part in any attempts that we might propose to mitigate the effects of the roadway onto their adjacent property.

Community Friction and Public Relations

ER
During a face-to-fact meeting at the County Commission chambers, you faced intense, emotional pushback from Venice and Englewood residents. Did that level of community anger surprise you, and how are you adapting your communication strategy moving forward?

Pat Neal
Our company has 147 completed new home communities in Sarasota and Manatee Counties, built over the last 56 years.

In the recent years, almost all them opposed by neighbors in one form or another. Notwithstanding the circumstances, we work hard to communicate with citizens in- person and in writing.

• We did so in four public meetings with the commission
• Two open public workshops
• A number of one-on-one meetings around those public hearings
• And in one “demonstration” held at the Venice Courthouse
• And a series of stories in the Sarasota Herald-Tribune

I could not establish a dialog with Mrs. Bauman and her crowd; only a response of insults and name-calling directed toward me.

ER
Activists like Kelly Bauman have alleged a lack of proper notification for those who will be most directly impacted by the construction. What steps did your firm take to engage the immediate community before the project went to a final vote? When were the residents on E. Manasota Beach Rd. notified of the potential project to be able to add their input and concerns?

Pat Neal
We normally work off a workbook and course “Dealing With An Angry Public, The Mutual Gains Approach to Resolving Disputes”. In this case, we were much less successful than we are usually. We had direct personal communication with Kelly Bauman, Mary Beth Jones and Richard Freshwater.

We had notification by mail, the Sarasota County mailed notice, four bus trips (mostly attended by citizens of Sarasota National), walking trips and field trips into the woods attended by roughly 60 people (followed the published news having to do with Manasota Beach Road and the mailings conducted by Sarasota County, and meetings conducted by the Sarasota National CDD).

I was surprised in the final hearing of adoption in August 2025 where I met for the first time six residents of the West Manasota Beach Road, who I did not know and with whom I had not previously been in communication (the previous five months have been spent primarily with the 1,590 residents of Sarasota National…with whom we established good communication).

I could never achieve a dialogue with the “Kelly Bauman Group”, only insults and name calling from them.

ER
There are ongoing legal contentions regarding whether parts of this corridor cross over private land that the county is claiming ownership of. Can you clarify the legal standing of the right-of-way you intend to pave?

Pat Neal
The statements made by the opponents were and are uniformly incorrect. The right-of-way is and has been owned by Sarasota County, and for the most part, was acquired during the years 1998 and 1999 from the Taylors (previous owners to Wellen Park) and from the six owners who are predecessors to those six primary owners on the west portion of Manasota Beach Road.

There has never been a misunderstanding as to what entity owns the right of way. The Right of way was acquired from the current owners or their predecessors in 1998 by Sarasota County.

The post Developer Pat Neal Responds to Community Backlash Over Englewood Extension appeared first on Englewood Review.