Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Economic Development topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Staff presents CPTA strategic plan targeting airport, bypass and fairgrounds to spur economic development
Summary
A consultant presented a state-funded CPTA strategic development plan that inventories county assets and proposes three target initiatives — bypass intersections, Keystone Airport land and a reprogrammed fairgrounds — and asked for commissioner feedback before the state grant deadline; staff will deliver the final draft the next day.
Laura Diedrich, senior planner/project manager with Half Associates, presented the results of a Community Planning Technical Assistance (CPTA) grant and a draft strategic development plan. The deliverables include an asset inventory, community workshop input and targeted initiative recommendations for economic development.
Diedrich described three primary target initiatives: (1) the Stark Bypass intersections with differentiated character and development opportunities; (2) approximately 95 acres in a phase‑1 package at the Keystone Heights/Keystone airport with plans for industrial/aerospace and later expansion to some 600 acres; and (3) a reprogrammed fairgrounds with RV parking, an enhanced horse arena and a central performance/event building to generate year‑round revenue.
She said the plan is intended to be a living document with measurable performance goals and noted the state grant deliverable deadline required a submission to the state by May 31; commissioners were to receive the final packaged draft the next day for comment. "This is a living tool for you — you will have time to look through it longer to make any changes or additions," Diedrich said.
Commissioners and staff praised the work and discussed next steps including grant follow-ups to fund infrastructure (staff referenced possible $60 million utility investments) and coordination with regional economic development organizations. Diedrich said staff would accept feedback promptly to finalize materials the county will submit to the state.
