NEWBERRY – As residential subdivisions, commercial projects and public infrastructure improvements continue to reshape Newberry, city officials are introducing a new online tool designed to help residents keep up with the pace of growth.
During the May 26, 2026, City Commission meeting, GIS Analyst Nicki Bailey unveiled the city’s new Planning Projects Dashboard, an interactive mapping platform that allows users to view development projects throughout Newberry and track them from approval to completion.
The tool arrives at a time when growth remains one of the community’s most closely watched issues. New housing developments and commercial projects have generated ongoing discussion among residents concerned about the scale and pace of development, traffic impacts and the city’s future character.
Commissioners praised the dashboard as a way to provide greater transparency and give residents direct access to information that previously could require multiple searches through city records or meetings.
The web-based platform displays projects on an interactive city map and allows users to search by project name, address and approval date. Users can also identify whether a project is residential or commercial and view information including acreage, square footage, zoning classifications and project status.
According to Bailey, the dashboard includes both completed projects and those currently moving through the development process.
Users can access site plans, view census-related information and explore zoning categories throughout the city. The platform also provides explanations of what each zoning designation allows, helping residents better understand how properties may be developed under city regulations.
In addition to development projects, the dashboard outlines key planning areas such as the Community Redevelopment Agency district and the city’s urban services area.
“The program is as close to real time as possible,” Bailey told commissioners during the presentation.
She explained that project information is updated following City Commission meetings to ensure the public has access to current information.
“I update the information the morning after each city commission meeting,” Bailey said.
The dashboard may prove especially useful as Newberry continues to evaluate new residential developments and annexations. During the same May 26 meeting, commissioners approved land-use changes that advance the proposed 500-home Sandia West subdivision, one of several large residential projects currently in various stages of planning or construction.
For residents seeking to better understand where growth is occurring and what projects have been approved, city officials said the dashboard offers a centralized source of information.
The Planning Projects Dashboard is available through the Planning Department section of the City of Newberry website or directly at arcg.is/0zeW4D1.
Questions regarding the dashboard can be directed to Community Planner Sarah Vidal at 352-472-5440 or by email at svidal@newberryfl.gov.
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