A 300-plus page document seeks to guide Islamorada’s housing needs, address congestion issues on the road, bolster environmental protections and reinforce the village’s character, among many other goals.
Notably, the updated comprehensive plan puts more priority on developing affordable and workforce housing, especially in a time when a vast majority of workers commute outside to the village.
On Sept, 30, interested residents and village officials heard from the firm that’s led Islamorada’s comprehensive plan update for the past two years. Jason King, co-owner of Able City East, said the plan is the guide to directing capital improvements, evaluating development projects, enacting public policy and ensuring Islamorada is a place residents want it to be.
“The plan influences everything from how easy it is to walk or bike safely, to whether affordable housing is available, to how well the village protects its coastal resources,” he said. “By tying local decisions to state and regional frameworks, the plan helps ensure Islamorada remains a livable, resilient community for generations.”
Updates within the plan include prioritizing affordable and workforce housing projects. In 2012, the village had 70% of commuters coming to work in the village. By 2022, the figure increased to 80% commuters. An economist with Able City East who visited last year to discuss these statistics.
By the economist’s calculation, roughly 20 more commuters are added to Islamorada’s roads every year. King said that’s due to more jobs but not enough local housing.
“Those people are driving in from Florida City and that’s your traffic. (The economist’s) solution for us was to try to build more housing in the Keys,” King said. “Those people will bike and they will walk. They will take transit. Those people will drive less far and that puts less cars on the road.”
In creating more housing opportunities, the updated comprehensive plan takes valued assets in the community, like commercial buildings, and upgrades them to include workforce housing above.
“It’s turning one story into two or three, but it’s creating a more attractive unit and those people are living above, and it’s helping the small businesses be able to recruit workers,” King said.
In addition, the plan seeks to foster a stronger relationship with the nonprofit Habitat for Humanity of the Upper Keys on housing that’s affordable for families and workers. HfHUK works in partnership with people in need to build decent, affordable housing. The houses then are sold to those in need at no profit and with no interest charged.
In 2021, HfHUK built 16 new affordable housing units at the Windley Point Condominium project at 84771 Overseas Highway. More recently, HfFUK completed the affordable housing complex on Gardenia Street, next to Plantation Key School. The complex features eight three-bedroom, two-bathroom units.
“I don’t think the plan did a good enough job talking about what Habitat has done, and now the plan talks about Habitat’s goals, its priorities,” King said.
On the environment, the updated plan bulks up language to better protect tropical hardwood hammocks and sensitive lands. King said they also restored language within the comprehensive plan related to the protected eagle’s nest on Lower Matecumbe Key.
King said many people are particularly excited about potential improvements to the Morada Way Arts & Cultural District with an entryway, permeable paving patterns and asphalt art. King said there were 32 letters of support for the gateway and arts district intersection transformation.
“This is the idea that had the most consensus,” King said.
Other goals set out in the plan include increasing public boat ramps and beaches, enhancing safe pedestrian and cyclist traffic along the Old Highway and addressing drainage and stormwater issues.
The full plan can be viewed by visiting https://islamorada.fl.us/488/Planning-Development-On-Going-Projects#docaccess-90b0cc648d8f48edb940e40f7a463f24.
