HIGH SPRINGS VISION STATEMENT
General

Community Character
High Springs will maintain its small town atmosphere while accommodating planned growth Within its traditional city, the dynamics of preservation, revitalization and new development can co-exist and mutually contribute to a sense of place. Our gateways will reflect this community's distinct character and newly developing areas will offer a quality of life and character in keeping with the City's heritage. The City will strive to retain its identity through the maintenance of well defined edges.

Downtown
High Spring's downtown will flourish as the community's cultural, social, governmental and commercial center. Its human scale will be retained as the new is blended with the old. A synergistic blend of commerce, business, entertainment, service, cultural and public activities will be encouraged and live work arrangements will be emphasized. The downtown will be interconnected, walkable and bikeable while functionally accommodating the automobile. The gateways to the downtown will reflect the traditional sense of place that has distinguished the City.

History
High Springs is committed to preserving its history. The preservation of the historic integrity of those buildings that contribute to this legacy will be vigorously pursued. The adaptive reuse of historic structures and landmarks will be encouraged and new development will be architecturally and functionally compatible with the historic character of High Springs.

Natural Resources
High Springs is committed to the stewardship of a remarkable natural environment. The karst geology of the region has produced the largest natural system of springs on earth and the water supply of our entire state is just below our feet. The responsibility for protecting these resources is embraced by the City. The City will also seek to expand the accessibility of these natural resources to others and to pursue opportunities for educating the public about the extraordinary importance and value of these resources.

Housing
High Springs will promote a diversity of housing type, density and setting. The City will seek to provide a wide variety of life style choice to residents of all ages and life circumstances. The affordability of housing is of high priority as is the quality of housing construction and the long-term stability of housing value.

Neighborhoods
The conservation and revitalization of High Spring's traditional neighborhoods is of high priority. Neighborhoods will remain connected as integral parts of the community and empowered to influence their own destiny and character.

Growth Management
High Springs is committed to providing an exceptional level of public services to those citizens that are here today and to those who will come in the future. The infrastructure and services required of this commitment will be provided in a timely and efficient manner, and funded by an equitable balance of cost and benefit. The City will seek to balance the conservation of open lands and environmentally sensitive lands with growth demands.

Connectivity
High Springs is and will remain a physically, culturally and economically connected city. No City can thrive in isolation. Physically, internal and external connectivity of roads, pedestrian and biking facilities, and eventually public transportation are essential to the City's prosperity. High Springs is culturally important to the region and the City will exercise leadership in strengthening cultural ties with its neighbors. Economically, High Springs recognizes its dependence on the economic health of the Gainesville / Alachua County region and is committed to a progressive role as an economic partner with its neighbors.

Community Assets
High Springs values its community assets. Its schools, parks, public buildings and public spaces are all an important part of the City's character and heritage. City will restore, renovate and expand these assets to provide a full complement of educational, recreational, cultural, social and medical services and facilities for its citizens.

Economy

High Springs is an expanding community looking for partners who will offer opportunities throughout all major sectors of employment.

High Springs values its roots and is planning for and embracing the future. High Springs will adopt a philosophy allowing for sustainable development that enhances economic opportunity and community well-being while protecting and restoring the natural environment, where appropriate. High Springs will encourage well-planned growth without sacrificing High Springs’ natural beauty and rural home town character.

High Springs will offer attractive opportunities to interested businesses taking advantage of our key location, rail access, local ecological assets and beautiful surroundings. High Springs will protect our existing economic base and encourage future industrial and commercial growth.

Gateways to downtown will reflect the community’s distinct character. Newly developing areas will offer appropriate sustainable opportunities to enhance the quality of life of our citizens by providing improved access to employment opportunities, services, and goods though encouraged commercial, office, and light industrial development. High Springs will capitalize on its short distance from a vibrant interstate transportation web and its utility infrastructure.

High Springs will foster and promote ecological tourism that takes advantage of its proximity to the Santa Fe, Suwannee, and Ichetucknee Rivers and associated springs, and capitalize on heritage tourist opportunities. High Springs will encourage re-investment in its natural and cultural resources.

Respecting Our Neighbors
High Springs cannot exist in isolation. Our actions will influence and impact our neighbors just as we are affected by their actions. High Springs will weigh every decision for consistency with its own vision but with a full awareness of the consequences of such action for other governments, organizations and citizens. High Springs will seek and promote the same consideration from its neighbors.