BY DAN HILDEBRAN
A consultant hired by the City of Keystone Heights delivered the first draft of a plan that city leaders said might guide the municipality through the next several years.
The draft results from February workshops city council members and staff held with Jeff Hendry, director of the Florida Institute of Government.
The report identifies several priorities the city intends to focus on over the next several years. Those include
—Improving the safety and accessibility to the Lake Geneva waterfront areas and recreational facilities,
—Restoring water levels in lakes to support fishing and recreational activities,
—Addressing septic-to-sewer conversion and stormwater and floodwater management,
—Bringing businesses to the city: economic development,
—Managing the capacity of all infrastructure with new development projects, with the possibility of an additional 500 residents,
—Addressing citizens from outside the city limits using city resources and services, putting a strain on infrastructure needs,
—Keeping people in Clay County informed and advocating for an industry to be located here to provide employment for residents,
—Development of trade school opportunities,
—The need for commercial/industrial properties,
—Insufficient downtown public parking areas,
—A lack of significant retail presence in the downtown strip to give people a reason to linger and
—No clear incentive to offer for annexation – limited to public works and city staff, no other municipal services available.
The report also identified the reasons city leaders think residents move to the city, including,
—Strong generational ties among residents,
—Natural beauty and the scenic lakes,
—Sense of safety and community,
—Bedroom community – a retreat from urban areas,
—Favorable tax structure and a municipal airport.
The vision statement council members and city staff developed during the workshops is “The City of Keystone Heights provides outstanding municipal services, preserves and champions our lakes, ensures sound financial stewardship, and fosters a thriving community through secure infrastructure, responsible economic growth, and engaging events.”
The plan also lays out specific goals for city leaders to achieve, including developing a significant infrastructure plan no later than September 2025, developing a three-year funding plan by April 2026, hosting a volunteering event, and conducting an after-action review of the city’s Chautauqua event.
The draft also dictates that the city’s comprehensive plan be completed by March 2026 and that a business plan for a city museum and welcome center be developed.
The document includes an assessment of Keystone Heights’s strengths and weaknesses.
Strengths include the city’s lakes, airport, and churches. City leaders emphasized the importance of the Lake Region’s supportive business community, strong civic groups, and strong relationships with the county sheriff and tourism department.
Weaknesses include the area’s isolation from Clay County’s population centers, a lack of financial resources, a lack of follow-through on previous plans, staff turnover, and frustration with gaining community engagement.
The report also singled out the city’s urgent need to clean the trees and undergrowth in Lake Geneva as water levels rise.
