Oppose Manasota Beach Rd., the local grassroots group, has reached a turning point. Their case, which was filed by member Kelly Bauman, will not be dismissed and will proceed to a hearing in September 2026.
This is a big step. For months, Kelly and her group have protested with signs. Kelly filed a petition for an administrative hearing, taking on some powerful interests to force transparency and stand up for her community.
The Englewood REVIEW sat down with Kelly to make sense of the process, talk about what’s happening now, and to see what’s next.
First off, there’s an Order Granting Petition to Intervene. What does that mean?
“The Economic Stimulus Working Group’s attorney represents Pat Neal, who’s the sole member of ESWG. That group is responsible for this piece of the project, so they asked to intervene since this directly affects them on several fronts.”
Are there any hearings or events before September?
“The official hearings are set for September. I have a lot to do before then: preparing witnesses, gathering evidence, and submitting everything before we go to court.”
What do you expect in September? What would be a win?
“A win means no permit, no road. But more than that, I want to show how badly these developments are hurting people who already live here. Sarasota County keeps doing the bare minimum. They make decisions for new residents and more tax money, leaving the rest of us with the fallout. It’s infuriating. More development doesn’t mean better when it keeps making life worse for people already here.”
People keep saying the road is a “done deal.” What is your response?
“It frustrates me, especially when it’s family or friends. Instead of ‘good luck, you can do it,’ they just assume it’s over. But I’m not just complaining. There are real problems with this project. Last year, I told Spencer Anderson, ‘I’ll leave no stone unturned.’ This is about our livelihood, our quality of life for everyone. The wildlife, the barrier island beach is supposed to be protected, not jammed with 21,000 cars a day. My house is set back, so I’m not as directly affected as some, but this fight matters for all of us.”
What happens next? Walk us through the process.
“I’m doing all this pro se, on my own, so it’s not like I’m running a big legal operation. I might have someone with me at the hearing, but that’s not set. Right now, I’m focused on witnesses and evidence, lots of homework since I’ve never done anything like this before.”
How can people help?
“We’re holding a rally Tuesday, June 30, 2026, from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. at Manasota Beach Road and 776. Park at the retention pond, and if you can’t walk, we’ll get you there. Or just honk when you pass! Keep showing up to meetings, too. The next County Commissioner meetings are July 7th and 8th. Once the agendas are out, we’ll decide which one to attend.”
For information on this rally, click here.
Big picture, what can the community do to stop overbuilding like this in the future?
“Get involved and stay involved. It’s a lot of work—much more than I ever thought I’d do—but if not you, then who? Hold the commissioners accountable. Try to learn how the process works: public hearings, planning meetings. If nobody shows up, they won’t think about you at all.”
“I don’t like using the word ‘corruption,’ but a lot of legal things happening here still hurt us. Commissioners push through new codes and higher densities without caring about the impact. It’s obvious who’s ‘grandstanding’ for the developers. It makes you sick. Are there shady deals? Maybe, but ‘by your fruits you will know them.’ If the community keeps showing up, maybe they’ll see these projects as personal. Push for the commissioners to come to your street when a project’s being proposed. Make them remember you’re there. File public records requests. Let them know you’re watching and expect real representation.”
Kelly says, “Just because they can doesn’t mean they should. Commissioners like to say their hands are tied, but if they see favoritism or conflicts of interest, like the rest of us do, maybe it’ll force better decisions.”
Click here for more information on Oppose Manasota Beach Rd.
The Englewood REVIEW will continue to follow this story and provide updates as they happen.
