Kimley-Horn’s Jon Sewell discusses ideas with Sandi and Ken Bartolotti for the development of Heritage Square. 

LIVE OAK — The Community Redevelopment Agency had a full house at the community outreach meeting Thursday night.

Approximately 70 people attended the meeting to lend their voice to the Heritage Square redevelopment vision.

Heritage Square encompasses the area between U.S. Highway 129 on the west, Duval Street on the north, Mussey Avenue on the east and the railroad on the south.

Jon Sewell, a project manager with Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc., asked those in attendance to mark a map of Heritage Square with what they want to see in the area.

Residents were also encouraged to write their thoughts and ideas on a comment card.

The ideas from the citizens will be incorporated into the Heritage Square Master Plan.

“The city has done a great job of refocusing on improvements for this part of the city,” resident Tim Williams said. “There has been a lot of discussion in the pas but we appear to be close to a focused plan.”

Among the ideas discussed during the event at the Suwannee County Chamber of Commerce were retail shops and restaurants, including some condominium space on the second floor of the buildings. Also mentioned or marked on the maps were a brewery/pub, a hotel and an extension of the Heritage Trail walking trail.

“This is a wonderful idea,” resident Sandi Bartolotti said about the Heritage Square development. “This will help bring people into Live Oak.”

The draft of the master plan is expected to be completed by March, according to Sewell, who has been tasked with crafting that plan by the CRA.

The master plan will include various phases which normally includes Year 1, Years 2-5 and Years 6-10.

“I don’t think (Thursday night) could have gone better,” Sewell said. “The citizens were very attuned to what is going on and provided insightful thought into the process.”

CRA chairman Frank Davis said the meeting had very good participation.

“I felt the support for the project,” Davis said.