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Keystone Heights Community Redevelopment Area |
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Mission Statement: To maintain and strengthen the sense of community within the downtown business district and Commercial Circle. Creating an identifiable character for these businesses through signage, landscape standards, enhanced streetscapes, on-street parking and to provide additional pedestrian access to the parking. Form partnership with business associations and groups in order to foster community support for changes that will benefit the City of Keystone Heights as a whole.
What is a Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) In 1969, Florida enacted legislation that enabled local governments to create community redevelopment districts and community redevelopment agencies to work in those districts. There are approximately 140 Community Redevelopment Agencies operating in Florida at this time. In 2006, the City Council finalized the process that had been originally started in 1994 aimed at improvements to the downtown district as well as the business district on Commercial Circle. The creation of Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) would provide the means to improve these business districts. Through the CRA, revenue would become available to make public improvements and that these public improvements would serve as a catalyst to encourage business owners to make improvements to their properties. The Keystone Heights Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) is a public agency that was created by the City Council in accordance with the provisions of the Florida Statutes. The CRA is set up as a sub-unit of and operates within the Keystone Heights City government. The CRA is charged with undertaking redevelopment functions in the specified community redevelopment district. The Mount Dora CRA has fulfilled this function by making improvements to public grounds and infrastructure, such as parking and signage.
Organization
The Agency is made up of the City Council, an Advisory Board, and City staff. The Agency is the decision making body. The Advisory Committee is a seven member volunteer committee made up of City residents and business owners appointed by the City Council. This Advisory Board holds monthly meetings, which the public is encouraged to attend. The City staff works with the CRA Agency and Advisory Board to carry out the Agency’s responsibilities and activities.
Current CRA Board Members
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Mayor Mary Lou Hildreth Seat # 4
Re-elected April 6, 2008 – April 2011 3 year term
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Vice-Mayor Tony Brown Seat # 5
Re-elected April 7, 2009- April 2012 3 year term
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Councilman Bruce Harvin Seat # 2
Re-elected April 6, 2008- April 2010 2 year term
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Councilman Paul Yates Seat # 3
Elected April 7, 2009- April 2012 3 year term
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Councilman Gavin Rollins Seat # 1
Elected April 7, 2009- April 2010 1 year term
Current Citizens Redevelopment Advisory Board (CRAB)
- Meetings
Regular meetings of the Advisory Board are on the third Thursday of every month, beginning at 5:30 p.m. in the City Hall Council Room, located in City Hall, 555 S. Lawrence Boulevard. The City Council as CRA Agency, meets at 5:30 p.m., prior to the regularly scheduled monthly Council Meeting, the first Monday of the month at 6:30 p.m. (unless the Monday is a holiday, then the date is moved to the first Thursday of the month). Citizens are encouraged to attend these public meetings.
Description of Keystone Heights CRA District
The following are descriptions of sub-areas within the CRA district:
- Downtown Area – Lawrence Boulevard
This corridor extends from North Lawrence/ Commercial Circle to Keystone Beach
- Commercial Circle- Commercial district
- CRA Map CRA District Boundary Map
Funding
Like most Community Redevelopment Agencies, the Keystone Heights CRA is funded through Tax Increment Financing (TIF). Tax Increment funds are derived from ad valorem property taxes. The CRA is not a taxing authority nor does it set millage rates or assess property. Tax increment funds come through existing taxing entities including the City of Keystone Heights and Clay County but not including the school district or the water management district. The method of determining the amount of funding the CRA receives each fiscal year (October 1 – September 30) is described below. When the CRA was created in 2006 the assessed value of the area was set as the base year tax base. Thereafter, the taxes from additional increases in property values are dedicated to the redevelopment agency. In each subsequent year, the Clay County Property Appraiser determines the assessed value of the area. The difference between the assessed value of the base year and the current year is calculated. This is referred to as the “increment”. The increment is multiplied by the millage rate of each contributing taxing entity. The taxing entity remits 95% of that amount of money to the CRA Trust Fund.
Accomplishments
The CRA has invested its tax increment revenue into the construction and maintenance of public improvements and other redevelopment programs since 2006. Since inadequate parking was the major reason for creating the CRA, creating additional public parking was the highest priority. This resulted in the construction of a new parking area on Sylvan Way. This has increased available free public parking in the CRA to 483 regular spaces and 23 handicap spaces.
Completed Projects Completed CRA Project Pictures
The Keystone Heights Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) completed a few beautification projects in 2007 including a new Beach informational sign created in a design similar to the original city markers, replacing the old sign which was in a dilapidated state.
The CRA also participated in a public-private partnership matching grant funding obtained from the Garden Club as well as a grant donation received from DuPont. These monies were used to refurbish the Veteran’s Memorial behind the Library as well as completion of Phase I of tree plantings on the right of way areas of Lawrence Boulevard.
Current Projects
CRA Business Façade Grant Program - Façade Grant Form
Long Range Plans
Streetscapes
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