The Keystone Heights City Council voted Monday to remove one street parking space on South Lawrence Boulevard to improve traffic flow and safety at a congested intersection, while also approving more than $41,000 to support the Lake Geneva restoration project.
The parking space removal, the northernmost spot in front of Keystone Gifts and Guns at 155 South Lawrence Boulevard, represents a compromise after months of negotiations between the city and the Florida Department of Transportation. The change is part of a larger project to add a right-turn lane from Lawrence Boulevard onto Walker Drive (State Road 100).
City Manager Jamie Booth told council members the solution balances competing concerns about parking availability and traffic congestion at the busy intersection.
“This gets back to only taking the first parking space, the northernmost parking space”, Booth said. “It creates a nice, sloped entrance into the through lane.”
Earlier FDOT proposals would have eliminated three to five parking spaces in the area, but city officials pushed back, citing the importance of downtown parking for local businesses. The final design incorporates striping and lane markings to better guide drivers through the intersection, where traffic frequently backs up as drivers navigate the sharp turn.
Property owner Karen Nelson, whose building fronts the affected parking area, said she appreciated the city’s efforts to minimize the impact.
“I’m not opposed to taking one,” Nelson said. “I like that idea, and I appreciate that DOT saw that eventually could make it work out.”
Councilman Dan Lewandowski, who has championed parking preservation, acknowledged the compromise while planting seeds for future improvements. He suggested that the city explore reclaiming a curved section of right-of-way after FDOT completes construction, potentially adding angled parking spaces.
“Every study says parking, parking, parking,” Lewandowski said. “I’m still not happy about losing a parking space, but it is much better than what it was.”
Lake Geneva Project Moves Forward
In other action, the council unanimously approved transferring $41,241 from the city’s lakes account to Clay County to support the Lake Geneva Restoration Project. Among other solutions, the funds will help remove fallen trees blocking the lake’s connection at Nelson’s Point.
Mayor Nina Rodenroth said the money had been earmarked for a fishing pier at Keystone Beach Park, but the tree-clearing project is a higher priority.
“With the pier now kind of on hold until we just get the trees out of the way, that’s why this came up, and this needed some extra funds,” she said.
Clay County Commissioner Betsy Condon thanked the council for its continued support during public comments.
“We believe we have a path to fund the entire proposed project,” Condon said. “Hopefully I’ll be able to convince my fellow commissioners next Tuesday evening (to contribute) and then in March, we’re going to our tourist development council to ask them to transfer some funds from their budget into the general budget to fund this project because access to Lake Geneva is all about fishing, and we keep hearing all the time, please host fishing tournaments.”
The multi-agency effort includes the St. Johns River Water Management District, Clay County, and the city. Officials hope to clear the debris before lake levels rise again, preventing further damage to city property at Keystone Beach and other access points.
New Planning and Zoning Board Member
The council appointed Carolyn Vanzo to the Planning and Zoning Commission. Vanzo, a new resident who moved from Melbourne in September, works as an environmental scientist for the St. Johns River Water Management District.
“I’ve been with them about seven years in vegetation mapping, submerged aquatic vegetation monitoring, and springs monitoring, and I’m a mother of two,” the applicant told council members. “They both go to Keystone Heights Elementary, grades four and five. I’ve been very interested in an opportunity like this and to learn and get experience in any way I can to help Keystone.”
City Projects Update
Booth provided an extensive update on city projects, including:
• The Keystone Heights Memorial Gardens administrative building is nearly complete, with only HVAC and internet installation remaining. A new QR code system allows visitors to get directions to specific grave sites.
• Tennis court construction at the city park, approved last August, will move forward after the city was unable to secure a U.S. Tennis Association grant.
• The pavilion’s septic-to-sewer conversion, budgeted for $20,000, came in under budget at approximately $18,500.
• Beam and Beasley lanes received asphalt milling to improve road conditions.
Calendar Changes
The council rescheduled its May meeting from May 4 to May 11 to accommodate Councilman Dan Lewandowski’s attendance at his son’s college graduation in California. The coffee and commerce meeting scheduled for May 11 will move to May 4.
The next regular city council meeting is scheduled for March 2 at 6 p.m., preceded by a Community Redevelopment Agency meeting at 5:30 p.m.
