Southgate officials heard details of a proposed strategic plan for the city developed with the help of the Kentucky League of Cities, known as KLC, at their July 2 council meeting.
John Buchanan, community and economic advisor for KLC, presented an initial draft of the KLC Vision 25-30-35 for Southgate.
Buchanan and Tad Long, community and economic manager, worked with the city for the past several months to develop the plan, Buchanan said.
“I do want to preface this and say that with it being a draft, the strategies and implementation steps found within it are not set in stone,” said Buchanan. “This plan was made with the intent of giving some visionary, aspirational ideas to the city that we at KLC believe Southgate has every capability of achieving.”
He noted that the city had worked with KLC to envision how it might move forward in 2025 and 2030. His presentation outlined how that vision might extend into 2035.
Strengths and challenges today
Buchanan started with a list of city strengths, including strong leadership focused on the future and a designation as the second safest city in the state. He also listed several amenities already in place, including the city’s community center, the park, playgrounds, and ball fields.
He also noted challenges. The city is landlocked and therefore has less room to expand new business and residential developments. The city also lacks a developed business center, no central place for retail, restaurants and entertainment. US 27, a main thoroughfare in the city, needs upgrades or improvements.
Buchanan identified four main areas of focus — residential and business development, quality of life, city governance and facilities, and downtown development.
On residential and business development, he noted the city has ongoing projects, including those at Memorial Point and Moock Road, as well as opportunities along US 27.
In terms of quality of life, while residents have access to recreation areas, more connectors throughout the community are needed. He also noted that growth within the city has taxed some facilities and there may be a need to update or build new facilities.
Buchanan expanded on the area of a downtown center.
“Southgate currently lacks a true downtown core that can serve as the main gathering point for the city, and perhaps specifying a zone within the city to serve as downtown can incentivize new growth and community engagement,” he said.
Looking toward the future
Buchanan went on to outline some ideas for the future, including plans for what could be done in the near future, as well as more aspirational thoughts for farther into the coming decade and beyond.
The city could promote innovation through regional collaborations with surrounding communities and Campbell County,” he said.
Development of a downtown would create opportunities, possibly through mixed-use development and utilization of an entertainment district, as well as recreation and pedestrian infrastructure, Buchanan said.
The city can continue to maintain and develop around the community center park and sports fields, but could expand these areas to offer multiple events and other activities.
“We also want to empower the city to help you develop a broader marketing strategy that can bring different opportunities in development, explore potential creation of a business council within the city that will more closely align the city’s goals with businesses in the area and their needs,” he said.
Development offers great opportunities, but the city needs to be prepared to handle new growth, he added.
Short, medium and long-term goals
KLC laid out a set of short, medium and long-term suggested goals. Here are some of the suggestions:
Short term (within about a year):
- Conduct a business inventory to learn what types of businesses are located in the city; identify what business mix works best for Southgate and the surrounding region.
- Increase avenues of communication and outreach to area businesses and residents.
- Complete Memorial Pointe and Sunrock residential developments.
- Complete and make operational the police evidence room.
- Expand and energize the work of the city’s Park and Tree Board.
- Hire a part-time city administrator, an additional full-time police officer and a part-time police records clerk.
- Set aside funds for development of the Optimist Park and complete the Community Center Trail.
- Initiate community conversations around the idea of creating a downtown area, possibly near the intersection of Evergreen, Blatt and Electric avenues; plan for a possible mixed-use development along Electric and expand public space in the area. Talk to St. Therese School about shared parking for the public.
Medium-term ideas:
- Continue development and planning for condos/apartments on Moock Road.
- Explore opportunities for improved land usage to allow for future developments.
- Work with Kentucky Transportation Cabinet and Campbell County Planning on growth and development along US 27.
- Ensure future roadway plans and infrastructure developments are transparent and address city’s needs.
- Explore possibility of a new position for a business/community development coordinator.
- Continue to implement and upgrade street paving and sidewalk replacement.
- Develop connectors with new developments.
Long term (visionary possibilities for the future):
- Create planning around parcels of land available for development
- Attract a distillery/brewery and new restaurants
- Consider potential mixed-use developments and encourage local entrepreneurs.
- Consider further development of Sunrock Farm, US 27 and expand Memorial Pointe to Blossom Lane and Valley View to Tracy Avenue.
- Complete water lines on Valley View and Blossom, and plan for replacement of water lines along Tracy Lane and Heather Hill Drive.
- Complete development of a Southgate “Green Spine” to connect all parts of the city and provide ample walkability.
- Create greenspace within a renewed downtown core, including more options alongside city park and community center; expand recreation opportunities.
- Continue building the downtown corridor; including public events, shopping opportunities; holiday events, food trucks, etc.
Buchanan concluded, “Looking at all these phases from this year to five years to a decade, we want to emphasize that local should come first, expanding the tax base locally to create revenue generating businesses and partnerships.”
The future outlook should also be regional, he said. The city should seek partnerships to leverage economies of scale and share cost of services with those surrounding communities as well as intensify its relationship with Campbell County Planning and Zoning Commission in anticipation of any future changes.
“This looks like a good plan,” Mayor Jim Hamberg said. “There’s some things that are pie in the sky and some that are very useful. I like the business district right away. That makes a lot of sense to pull that together, especially with the comments that I’ve been hearing as I travel through. Thank you all again.”
Hamberg said the plan, as presented, was a first step and will be reviewed and further discussed by the council before adoption.