Newberry Approves Historic District Street Lighting

NEWBERRY ‒ The City of Newberry’s Historic Architectural Review and Planning and Zoning boards met Monday, June 7 to consider various proposed changes affecting the city.

City Manager Mike New presented streetlight options for the Historic Architectural Review Board’s consideration. The lights will be installed in conjunction with the Florida Department of Transportation’s State Road -26 One-Way Pairs project. The new streetlights will run the length of the project from approximately State Road 45 on the east to County Road 337 to the west, a portion of which is located within the Newberry Historic District.

Board members expressed concern that whatever design was adopted, it must provide the capacity to support Christmas lights and decorations and other items. New assured the Board that the four options presented for consideration would accommodate those concerns.

The Board settled on a style called Domia, with daylight white lighting, banner arms, and finished in black. Board members were satisfied that the clear white lights would be aimed downward and would not negatively impact homeowners on their property.

In other Board action, a Quasi-Judicial public hearing was held on a request by Lee and Casey Mason, owners of Arch Angel Gunsmithing and Outfitters, 25720 W. Newberry Road.

The request was to alter the exterior of their building, which is located within the Newberry Historic District. The owners asked for permission to add a storage room onto the rear of the building.

Drawings and specifications were included with the owners’ application and indicated the addition would be 31 ft. long by 10 ft. wide and would be located to the rear of the eastern portion of the building. Board members agreed to the request.

Planning & Zoning

Three Quasi-Judicial public hearings were conducted during the Planning and Zoning Board meeting and all received approval by Board members.

The first item was a request to change the City’s Future Land Use Map from Low Density Residential to Medium Density Residential. The property in question consists of 2.08 +/- acres and is owned by Herb and Jeanie Marlowe. The requested change will change the number of dwelling units per acre from one to four units to less than or equal to eight dwelling units per acre. The property encompasses three address locations beginning with 24916 S.W. 4^th Avenue and including 24928 and 24902.

Once the change to the Future Land Use Map was approved the property owner requested a rezoning from Residential, Single Family (RSF-1) to Residential, Multiple-Family (RMF-1) on the same property. Both the change to the Future Land Use Map and the rezoning request will be heard by the City Commission at the July 12 meeting.

The third Quasi-Judicial public hearing was an application to allow for a fence and shed to remain in the front and side yard of property located at 25881 N.W. 4^th Lane. The petition was brought by Donald Long, owner.

According to Newberry Principal Planner Wendy Kinser-Maxwell, the way the builder sited the building did not allow room for the shed to be placed in the back of the home. Long said he had applied for a permit with the City previously and was told that he could go ahead with his plans unless he heard back from the City.

Hearing nothing, he proceeded thinking the City had approved his previous application. However, City Codes Enforcement Officers contacted him recently to let him know he was not properly permitted, which led to his current application.

Board members reviewed Long’s application and voted to recommend approval to the Board of Adjustment, which will meet June 14.

In other Board business, New formally presented the long-awaited Community Redevelopment (CRA) Plan to the Board for their approval. Following a brief question and answer period, Board members approved the plan, which will go next before the City Commission at the June 14 meeting for consideration.

If approved by the City Commission, the plan will be forwarded to the Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) for review. City Commissioners and the BoCC are scheduled to meet jointly at Newberry-Easton Sports Complex on June 28.

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