There’s another update in the ongoing fight over the fate of Manasota Beach Road. On August 19, 2026, supporters and critics gathered on Zoom for the latest in a series of court hearings. Englewood REVIEW spoke with Kelly Bauman, who’s been leading the charge for the Oppose Manasota Beach Rd. group. Kelly has been carrying a lot on her shoulders.
After listening to the YouTube replay of the hearing where the judge tackled the county’s latest motion to dismiss, Kelly said, “I stood my ground as best I could as a pro se petitioner.” She faced off against several attorneys, with about 25 members of the public also tuning in. “Thank you to everyone who showed up at the last minute,” she said. The support matters. In battles like this, people notice who shows up, and Kelly isn’t taking that for granted. Standing up to powerful interests isn’t easy.
The Case Comes Down to Two Dry Ponds
Yet, here’s the catch. Kelly’s challenge now involves only two dry ponds, a small fraction of a larger project. “I’m fighting an environmental permit that covers the whole construction, but now, because of the last hearing, I’m only allowed to challenge these two dry ponds and not anything about the previous permits,” she said.
The judge sided with county attorneys who insisted Kelly restrict her focus to new construction issues. “It’s mind-blowing. The permit includes 46 acres for this shortcut—a road two miles long, 150 feet wide, four feet high—and I’m supposed to act like the only problems are with two ponds. The idea that this won’t have devastating impacts? It’s just not true.” She pushed back hard. “I disagree with this narrowing. The case law they quoted doesn’t fit. Even if the county claims everything is above board—which I don’t buy—they still shouldn’t go through with it.”
This year has worn down everyone involved in this fight. Kelly is the one in court, but she’s quick to point out she isn’t alone. There are plenty of others from the group, neighbors, researchers, and dedicated residents, poring over permits, filing public records requests, and attending endless meetings. All unpaid, all sacrificing their time because they care about their community.
It’s Been a Long Year
A year ago, on August 27, 2025, this development project got the green light. “I’ve spent hundreds of hours reading permits, rezones, statutes, agreements—probably more time than the developers themselves!” Kelly said. Others in her group have done just as much, if not more. “We can’t get this time back. People think electing commissioners will protect our interests, but it’s not reality—the developers hold sway.”
She sees citizens feeling obligated to attend every single board and planning meeting, worried that something critical will slip through if they don’t. “It’s wrong and sad. The commission should do more than the bare minimum. They didn’t even meet their own basic standards for noticing. The bare minimum for the environment. Bare minimum for SWFWMD. They’ve been bending over backwards for developers, feeding the giant. And then to act shocked when those same developers turn around and sue the county? You get what you tolerate.”
The fight isn’t over yet. Meetings are on the calendar; the work continues. If you want to get involved, there’s a county commission meeting on August 25. The group’s attorney will make a statement, and the public may attend. On August 26, they’ll hold a Year in Review Fundraiser. Details are on the Oppose Manasota Beach Rd. Facebook page.
It’s been a long, exhausting fight. Even if they don’t win every battle, the group has made waves, raising awareness about problems that would have flown under the radar.
Change doesn’t happen overnight, but community commitment matters. Kelly Bauman and her group have shown that.
As for the judge’s ruling? It could come at any time. We’ll keep you posted as soon as the news breaks. As Kelly put it: “We aren’t giving up.”
For more information about Oppose Manasota Beach Rd. Facebook Group, click here.
