On Thursday, July 16, 2026, at 2:00 p.m., Kelly Bauman joins a public Zoom hearing before the Administrative Law Judge at the Chamber of Commerce. The main item: arguments on the Motion to Dismiss filed by developers trying to pause the legal challenge before opponents even get a real chance to make their case.
This isn’t just another line on the legal calendar for Kelly Bauman or the group Oppose Manasota Beach Rd. Big players like Pat Neal want to shut them down fast. This hearing has actual weight, as a judge will listen, question, and decide if the case can move forward. It’s set for two hours in the middle of the afternoon, but the impact will last much longer.
Kelly says she isn’t coming in empty-handed. She’ll lay out evidence for everyone to see: severe flooding risks, destruction of local wetlands, environmental dangers, and threats to neighborhood safety. Their stance is clear: community voices matter. This fight isn’t about a handful of angry residents; it’s about a shared future. Anyone from the public can tune in, support Kelly, and let decision-makers know: the community won’t step aside for big developers, no matter how loud or well-funded.
Divisions remain, that’s true. But what happens at this hearing will shape the area for years. The choices made now will echo far beyond the next news cycle.
Here’s what Kelly Bauman says about the fight:
“After nearly a year digging through thousands of papers, documents, and permits, it’s hard to believe our elected officials still claim they can’t see what’s right in front of them—clear as day to thousands of us.”
What does Kelly say to those who support the road and say that “it’s in the plan” for some time?
“They can’t ignore the endless problems. The overall process, the hasty approval, and, frankly, the total lack of due diligence are obvious. Our commissioners had a choice. They could have denied the Unsolicited PPP. Instead, they rushed this through in just 14 days. Fourteen. For a project tangled in decades of permits, shifting ownership, city boundaries, sensitive wetlands, endangered animals, a canopy road, the floodplain, and the Lemon Bay watershed. And let’s not skip over safety—a dangerous intersection, 21,000 cars funneled onto Manasota Key, a barrier island we’re supposed to protect. It’s an embarrassment, a real failure of responsibility. Everyone knows River Road is the evacuation route for Englewood, Port Charlotte, and North Port. That’s where the focus should be—full stop.”
Regarding the actions of commissioners, Kelly admits, “I’m embarrassed to say that both times Mark Smith raised serious doubts about this project, the other commissioners did nothing. They couldn’t even pause to consider. Tom Knight insisted, ‘River Road is too dangerous for the high schoolers; we need Manasota Beach Rd,’ and then shrugged off the rest. The staff just pushed ahead. Fourteen days! It’s outrageous.”
What are her thoughts when people on social media accuse the Oppose Manasota Beach Rd. group and Kelly Bauman of being a small group of angry “complainers”?
“Englewood and Charlotte County residents should be furious. We aren’t a small group of ‘complainers.’ We’re a large, diverse crowd who’ve recognized the contradictions, the corners cut, the special treatment handed out. We’re not ignoring it. We’re not letting it slide.”
Kelly never imagined she would be here, preparing for this Zoom call and being the spokesperson for this cause.
“Did I expect to be here? Honestly, no. But once you see the whole picture, you have a responsibility to speak up. I don’t get to look away—and I won’t. It’s shameful our county commissioners don’t feel the same obligation. It’s time they stop making excuses and actually take responsibility.”
Click here for more information about Oppose Manasota Beach Rd.
