The project’s primary challenger has requested a delay, citing a ‘humanly impossible’ timeline.
By Ramon Lopez
Original Air Date: September 15 2026
Host: Developer Pat Neal convinced Sarasota County to go along with his proposal to build a road extension that would create a straight connection of the Wellen Park mega-development to nearby beaches. Residents along the rural dirt road in Englewood that would turn into a major thoroughfare are resisting the project, and one will get her day in court soon. Ramon Lopez reports on the latest turn in the Manasota Beach Road Extension project.
Ramon Lopez: An Englewood area resident is soon set to challenge an amended Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFMD) permit. It’s linked to the controversial East Manasota Beach Road extension.
The Beach Road extension involves a two-mile stretch that would connect River Road and Englewood Road. Back in August 2025, Pat Neal pitched the road extension as a hurricane evacuation route. As a side benefit, it would also reduce travel time to beaches for residents of Wellen Park. Initiated by Pat Neal, it’s one of the biggest and fastest growing new developments in the region. Affected locals fear unwanted traffic congestion.
Pat Neal and Kelly Bauman. | Screen grab WWSB ABC7
The Sarasota County Board of Commissioners approved the road extension to help mitigate both beach and school traffic. It’s part of a public-private partnership. Sarasota County approved $15 million to turn a dirt road that is currently off the beaten path into a county roadway.
The next skirmish in the ongoing road rage is set to take place at a September 21 administrative hearing. But Kelly Bauman, who is the point person for opponents of the planned road buildout, has asked the Sarasota County Commission to delay the hearing. This, so she can better prepare her challenge. Unclear is whether her plea at last week’s county hearing fell on deaf ears.
Pat Neal
The latest move comes after Judge Suzanne Van Wyck on August 21 denied a motion to dismiss Bauman’s case, clearing the way for the September hearing. Bauman argued that the permit for stormwater management wouldn’t protect her property from future flooding.
Bauman recently sought an extension of the discovery deadline and continuance of the final hearing, but it was denied. This led to last week’s direct appeal to the county commissioners.
Kelly Bauman had this to say:
Kelly Bauman: The economic stimulus working group represented that it could provide those responses by September 11. Now, listen to how these dates collide. September 11, discovery closes. The discovery I’m waiting for could arrive as late as that date, and my depositions are also due on September 11. September 14, the very next business day, I must provide opposing counsel the documents and materials I intend to rely upon in this hearing. If technical discovery arrives on the 11th, essentially, I have one weekend to review it. September 21 is the final hearing. Now think about that. The county owed me discovery on the 12th, the county asked for more time, I waited until the 21st, directed it to another party, I followed that direction, and now, information could arrive on the 11th, my materials are due on the 14th, and the hearing is on the 21st. This is humanly impossible to navigate fairly even if I had an attorney and a legal team, which I don’t. And I didn’t create this timeline.
Commissioners, look at the entire timeline. Unsolicited proposal that wasn’t even a glimmer in anyone’s eyes, residents weren’t notified, we warned you about the flooding and safety, residents sent certified letters, additional development was approved, environmental permit continued to evolve, residents were forced to challenge the permit, and now we are racing towards a final hearing. The residents are not the enemy. We are the people you represent. We are the people who live with these decisions after the developers’ consultants and attorneys go home. So I’m asking you today to reconsider this action.
RL: The Manasota Beach Road expansion project is being closely watched by other flood-sensitive regions. There, residents are also raising concerns about stormwater impacts, wetland disturbance, and long-term resilience.
This is Ramon Lopez for WSLR News.
WSLR News aims to keep the local community informed with our 1/2 hour local news show, quarterly newspaper and social media feeds. The local news broadcast airs on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6pm.