Do we even know where to start? Do we even know what type of affordable/workforce housing would help the situation? What can we learn from the County - 9 months ago they acquired 12 one-bedroom deed restricted affordable housing units in Key Largo.  None have been rented. Many new projects are pending with hundreds of affordable deed restricted units proposed.

Perhaps Habitat for Humanity is correct that in the Upper Keys the most needed housing is stand-alone 3 bedroom/2 bath family ownership opportunities.

As a proponent of Habitat stated to us “These end up being essential permanent residents of the community who benefit from their proximity to their jobs, high quality schools and the opportunity to create and grow their equity while contributing to the vibrancy of the community.”

Our proximity to the mainland makes it practical for many workers to commute.  The typical renters might rather live on the mainland due to the lower cost of living, availability of housing and proximity to a community of family and friends.

Unfortunately, bringing our workforce from the mainland may increase our local traffic challenges.

Affordable Housing Study: An up-to-date Housing Study is desperately needed! We cannot just guess about how to spend critical affordable housing funds. Or use 20-year-old data.  What do we really need? What decisions do we make as a Village that improve or hurt the goals.

The Islamorada statistics are readily available and need analysis as to the best approach to improving affordability.

Monroe County just approved an Affordable Housing Study. County Administrator Christine Hurley commented: “We are seeing a change of usage that we’ve never seen before in the County”

District 5 County Commissioner, Holly Rascheim, an Islamorada resident, stated: “We are getting a little saturated up here.  We need to make sure we are putting affordable housing where it actually needs to go.”

Does anyone else in Islamorada think we are “a little saturated?”

Click Here to read a Free Press story about the Monroe County study.  Why was Marathon included but not Islamorada?

If you are interested in reviewing the initial draft from Able City East, it is public record.  We would be happy to email it to readers.

We have also received comments from several staff members that have been sent to Able City.

As we’ve stated several times… Village citizen committees can and should help. This impacts life in Islamorada for generations to come. We hope all committees will be provided the initial draft along with any planning staff suggestions so they can review sections related to their committee work.

This is a complex document. Extensive work is needed. The public needs to be heavily involved.

Do not underestimate the critical importance of the comprehensive plan and public involvement.

This Wednesday the committee will continue discussing possible changes to the length of council terms (3, 4 years instead of 2), whether to stagger terms, whether “seats” should be eliminated in favor of just electing the top vote getters, giving the members of council a pay raise.

A majority of the committee seemed to prefer 3-year staggered terms last week after hearing the logic of 3 year terms presented by Lynn Tipton of the League of Cities. With 3-year terms, if a member of council only serves a single term they will have served through an entire budget cycle:

Year 1 - Sep Approval of a budget following the Nov election

Year 2 - Serve through a complete fiscal year (Oct 1 - Sep 30) with budget they approved

Year 3 - Completion of audit typically months into the 3rd year of the term.

Next meeting of the Charter Review Committee is Wed Feb 18 at 5:30PM, at the Community Room, Founders Park.  

Old Population Studies: No reaction - but we will keep reminding them that 20-year-old population studies taking up hundreds of pages in an agenda are clearly not relevant and should not be evidence during important decision-making hearings.

U. S. One Right of Way: a Turf and Landscape contract with FDOT for $65,644 annually for Islamorada Public Works to maintain the 18 miles of U.S. One was in the consent agenda. We wrote that the contract with FDOT merits further discussion.  The mayor pulled it from the agenda.

Missing from the agenda: Last week we pointed out several pending concerns missing from the agenda. Though not on the agenda, they were at least discussed and will be back on the next agenda:

1. Green Turtle Hammock - see report later in this newsletter.

2. Baseball: The Coral Shores home opener is Tues. Feb 17 at 6 PM at the Founders Park field.  

   
   

   Here’s the update discussed though not on the agenda:

• On Jan. 8, village council approved a revised license agreement that has not been approved by the school board yet.  

• The  license agreement states the school board would need approval  from the village for all decisions, including  the  design and development permits on the field.

• The school board has approved the “final design” but the school board has not forwarded it to the Village for approval.

• Reports from the team suggest that the field is not in the pristine condition promised by the School Board representative, Pat LeFere, Director of Operations & Planning. (We went by to check - the maintenance crew from Brightview was there - not working.  They were cutting down shrubs behind the visitors’ dugout.)

The contract includes resurfacing the pool, renovating the locker rooms, redoing the lighting, scoreboard and mechanical equipment as well as adding a lifeguard first aid station. The pool water was chemically neutralized to zero chlorine and then pumped out of the pool onto the Plantation Hammock Preserve on the north side of Founders Park.

Workmen have been hard at work with jackhammers, chipping away at the deteriorated 25-year-old pool surface.  

The timeline according to the contract - Construction through substantial completion Feb 1 – May 9, 2026 with completion – May 9 to May 23, 2026. Just in time for the very busy summer schedule with a variety of camps and events. Groups like the synchronized swimmers are using the pool at MM100 in Key Largo.

While the Village is losing significant revenue during the repairs, in the long run, there may be huge savings in the Village water bill as it is suspected that the pool has had some major leaks.  

Water bill: The water bills paid by the Village for the pool and the pool complex for the 4 months from October 2025 through January 2026 totaled just over $107,000.

Other Founders Park Facilities are available to allow residents and visitors to enjoy the beautiful park, the beach, fitness equipment, walking paths, dog park, and athletic fields.  

Director of Planning, Jennifer DeBoisBriand, provided an explanation of what to expect next with the comp plan review.  According to her report:

• The Village received a working draft of the proposed amendments to the Comp Plan from Able City East in September.

• The staff has reviewed the document and submitted recommendations to Able City.  

• Once Able City addresses the suggestions, they will submit an updated draft to the Village which will be available on the Village website for the public and council.

• A public workshop with AbleCity East will be scheduled for public comments.

• Able City will again update the working draft based on public feedback

• Their updated draft will be presented to the LPA for public hearings (2 anticipated)

• Once reviewed by LPA, their recommendations will be submitted to the Council for Council approval.

If you are interested in reviewing the initial draft from Able City East, it is public record.  We would be happy to email it to readers.

We have also received comments from two staff members that have been sent to Able City.

As we’ve stated several times… Village citizen committees can and should help. We hope all committees will be provided the initial draft along with any planning staff suggestions so they can review sections related to their committee work.

This is a complex document. Extensive work is needed. The public needs to be heavily involved.

Do not underestimate the critical importance of the comprehensive plan and public involvement.