This petition is addressed to Charlotte County Board of County Commissioners and the Planning & Zoning Department

We, the residents and property owners on or around Manasota Key are herewith formally expressing our opposition to the proposed Manasota Key Resort expansion as currently designed, submitted, and approved.

Any development on Manasota Key must reflect the island’s limited capacity, environmental sensitivity, and long-term resilience needs.  Once natural lands and wildlife corridors are destroyed, they cannot be restored.   

More specifically, our direct concerns are as follows:

1. Disproportionate Scale and Density

The proposed development is significantly out of scale with the surrounding character of Manasota Key. The island is predominantly composed of low-density, small condominium and residential properties. Introducing a large, high-density resort facility in this location represents a fundamental shift in land use that is incompatible with the island’s established character and infrastructure capacity.  Such intensification threatens to permanently alter the community’s identity from a low-impact coastal residential environment to a congested commercial resort corridor.

These zoning specifications were designed and implemented for a reason.  Manasota Key is a barrier island and, like all of them in Florida, is at high risk from rising seas and strengthening hurricanes.  Additionally, considering the landscape, the geological consequences of overdevelopment will be exacerbated as the sea level rises on sinking sand.  The severe negative consequences and impacts of over-development are not theoretical; residents experience them daily.

2. Severe Traffic and Emergency Access Constraints

Manasota Key is served by limited access points and a constrained roadway system. During peak season and weekends, travel on and off the island routinely takes 20 to 30 minutes due to congestion. The primary choke point at the roundabout is located in close proximity to the proposed project.

Additional high-density development will:

·       Exacerbate existing traffic congestion

·       Impair emergency response times

·       Increase evacuation risks

·       Further restrict access for residents and visitors

More people and vehicles in this constrained environment will place unacceptable strain on first responders, particularly during storms, medical emergencies, and evacuation events.

3. Documented Flooding and Storm Vulnerability

This site is in a high-risk coastal flood zone that has already experienced catastrophic impacts from recent storms.

In 2024, Hurricanes Helene and Milton caused widespread dune loss, washouts, storm surge damage, and environmental degradation throughout the area. The increasing storm intensity and sea-level rise, approving major new development in this vulnerable area exposes residents, guests, and public resources to escalating risk and long-term liability.

4. Environmental and Wildlife Impacts

The proposed project is located adjacent to and in proximity to:

·       Active sea turtle nesting beaches (Note our support of SB 180 -and HB 1171/SB988 protecting sea turtle nesting sites)

·       Marked nesting closures

·       Stump Pass Beach State Park

·       Sensitive dune and coastal vegetation systems

Large-scale development in this location will inevitably increase:

·       Artificial lighting

·       Human activity

·       Noise

·       Beach traffic

·       Habitat disturbance

·       Pollution

These impacts pose serious risks to protected wildlife species and fragile coastal ecosystems, in direct conflict with established conservation objectives.

5. Water Quality and Runoff Concerns

The region has already experienced declining water quality, harmful algal blooms, and major fish kills linked to runoff and development pressures.

A development of this scale will generate additional impervious surfaces, stormwater discharge, and pollutant loading that further threaten nearshore water quality, seagrass habitats, and marine life.

6. Economic Harm to Existing Property Owners

This project threatens the economic viability of existing small-scale property owners and tourism businesses.

Increased congestion, overcrowding, and diminished environmental quality will:

·       Reduce guest satisfaction

·       Discourage repeat visitation

·       Increase travel stress

·       Diminish the island’s appeal

These impacts place downward pressure on property values and undermine the very tourism economy the project claims to support.

7. Inadequate Public Engagement

To date, residents have not been meaningfully notified or engaged in public meetings regarding this project. No accessible community forums have been held, and many affected residents were unaware of the proposal until recently.

This lack of transparency undermines public trust and contradicts best practices for community-centered planning.

Requested Action

For the reasons outlined above, we respectfully request that the County:

·       Deny approval of the project in its current form, or

·       Require substantial downsizing and redesign, including:

·       Reduced unit count

·       Lower building intensity

·       Expanded environmental buffers

·       Enhanced traffic mitigation

·       Comprehensive environmental impact studies

·       Full public engagement process

Manasota Key is a unique coastal community whose value lies in its natural environment, limited density, and quality of life. Once these qualities are compromised, they cannot be restored.  Responsible planning requires prioritizing public safety, environmental protection, and community sustainability over short-term development gains.

We, the residents, your constituents, urge the County to prioritize sustainable development that respects community input and protects our natural environment and local economy.   Additionally, we voted for you as our county representatives to make responsible decisions based on the limitations of our area and the demands of the community.  Our voices are drowned out behind the noise of bulldozers and developers, and our mandates are overshadowed by big money and power.