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Lake City unveils five-year strategic plan; council raises concerns about housing strategies and eminent domain language
Summary
City consultants presented a five-year strategic plan that emphasizes economic development, housing, infrastructure and public safety; councilmembers questioned proposed housing authority creation and objected to language about using eminent domain for downtown redevelopment.
Consultants presented a five-year strategic plan to the Lake City Council on Sept. 17 that frames four strategic pillars — economic development, housing and community development, infrastructure and sustainable growth, and public safety and community engagement — and recommends a series of initiatives and implementation steps.
Why it matters: The plan lays out priorities and possible actions to shape Lake City’s growth, including pursuing industrial growth, supporting small businesses, expanding housing options, and strengthening emergency services. Several council members expressed strong objections to specific language and recommended further refinement before any formal adoption.
Presentation and scope: Consultants Carlene Dunningen and Hannah Notch said the plan grew from interviews, roundtables and a public survey that collected 540 responses. They told the council the plan highlights demand for family-friendly recreation, insufficient workforce and mixed-income housing, and public-safety concerns such as drug activity, violent crime and traffic safety. Recommended steps include an implementation team, prioritized initiatives, and quarterly community engagement meetings.
Council reaction: Council members praised the inclusive process but pushed back on housing recommendations. Councilman James Carter said the city should “enable private enterprise to solve [housing] problems” and criticized a proposal on page 257 (as cited in the presentation) that recommended pursuing acquisition and downtown redevelopment “through eminent domain if necessary.” Carter called that phrasing “abhorrent” and warned it targeted a successful local business; he asked that the language be removed. Council members Young and Jernigan also urged caution on eminent domain and emphasized public-safety attention; Mayor Walker said the council should not bind future councils to $36 million in debt for projects in the plan.
Next steps: The council did not vote to adopt the plan on Sept. 17. Councilmembers asked staff to schedule a workshop for further discussion and for the consultant team to provide an ADA-compliant presentation for posting online. Staff said they would return with a workshop-ready document and that the plan will be refined to address council concerns before any formal adoption vote.
Ending: Consultants and staff will supply revised materials and a proposed workshop schedule; councilmembers said they expect to continue working through housing, infrastructure and funding questions before approving any implementation steps.
