Commissioners back public-private plan to finish Manasota Beach Road and remove Keyway from thoroughfare plan

The Sarasota Board of County Commissioners on April 23 authorized county staff to pursue an unsolicited public-private partnership under Florida Statute 336.71 for programming, design, permitting and construction of Manasota Beach Road and separately directed staff to initiate a comprehensive-plan amendment to remove Keyway from the county—s major thoroughfare plan.

Public Works Director and County Engineer Spencer Anderson presented the item and described the unsolicited proposal submitted by the Economic Stimulus Working Group, represented at the meeting by Pat Neal. Neal and project engineers said the proposal would build roughly two miles of roadway from east of State Road 776 across Welland Park into the City of North Port limits and reported lower construction estimates on segments compared with prior county projections. Neal said private funding and use of public-private partnerships can reduce costs and accelerate delivery; he also identified possible funding sources the county could consider, including an unused half-cent (TDT or surtax allocation context noted by presenter) that he said could produce roughly $38 million per year, and state demonstration grants he said the group had previously secured for other projects.

The board heard technical comments from Stantec engineer Frank Domingo and community testimony from more than a dozen residents and neighborhood representatives. Speakers from Boca Royale and Beachwalk urged removal of Keyway from the thoroughfare plan, citing wetlands and floodplain impacts, proximity to existing homes, power-line corridor conflicts, Englewood Water District infrastructure within the proposed right of way, and likely high costs and property takings. Several residents said Keyway, as currently mapped, would not reach the beach and described the proposal as a costly "road to nowhere." Welland Park and West Villages representatives said they were prepared to build the remaining connection into the development and expressed support for completing Manasota Beach Road, noting the need to improve access before the new high school opens in August.

The board first voted to approve consideration of the unsolicited proposal and to direct staff to develop an agreement and a funding plan for a future public hearing. The vote passed by voice. Later, after public comment, the board voted to remove Keyway from the major thoroughfare plan and instructed staff to prepare the required comprehensive-plan amendment materials and return to the board; that motion also passed unanimously.

County staff said the Keyway removal will follow the formal comprehensive-plan amendment process and return to the board for final action. Commissioners asked staff to examine the Manasota Beach Road intersection with SR 776 to ensure adequate capacity and to coordinate with Welland Park and the school district to address bus routing and access before the new high school opens.

No final construction contract was approved at the meeting; staff will return with agreement terms, a funding plan and the comprehensive-plan amendment for Keyway removal for subsequent consideration and public hearings.