Residents urge pause on Manasota Beach Road expansion, allege required design deliverables were not submitted

Several residents used the meeting’s public‑comment period on April 7 to urge Sarasota County commissioners to halt progress on the Manasota Beach Road expansion until the county verifies that contractually required design deliverables were completed.

Kelly Baumann told commissioners she had reviewed county correspondence and internal consultant materials and concluded that the obligations tied to the 30% design phase of the public‑private partnership were not met. “The obligations tied to the 30% design phase under the public private partnership agreement for the Manasota Beach Road expansion were not fulfilled,” Baumann said, and asked the board to consider pausing the project until the obligations are verified.

Jim Lotowski, who also addressed the board, criticized what he called limited promotion and poor public notice of a first meeting he described as a “show and tell” rather than a neighborhood workshop; he urged reinstating in‑person, well‑publicized neighborhood meetings so residents can provide meaningful input.

Why it matters: Multiple commenters said the process and infrastructure planning for the road have been inadequate and raised concerns about flooding, drainage, traffic and impacts to neighborhoods. Several speakers said they fear being left with the costs of new infrastructure and loss of natural wetlands.

Board response: Chair acknowledged the public concerns and moved on to the consent agenda. No formal motion to pause the Manasota Beach Road project was made during this meeting; staff engagement and potential follow‑up were referenced in later agenda items.