Newberry Sets Sights on Community Redevelopment, 20-Year Agreement

NEWBERRY ‒ After more than 20 years of efforts and negotiations with the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC), the City of Newberry is forming the Newberry Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA). The CRA will be responsible for developing and implementing a Community Redevelopment Plan that addresses the unique needs of Newberry’s community redevelopment area. The plan will include overall goals for redevelopment and identify programs and projects planned for the area.

Negotiations between the City of Newberry and the BoCC have been ongoing. On June 25, 2019, the Alachua County Commission approved an agreement between Alachua County Commission and the City of Newberry Commission, authorizing the creation of the Newberry CRA. This approval also provided the delegation of authority necessary to authorize the action.

At the June 14, 2021, meeting of the Newberry CRA Board, the Board voted unanimously to approve the draft CRA plan and to forward the plan to the Newberry and Alachua County commissions for review and approval. Upon receipt of the draft plan, the Newberry City Commission unanimously approved it.

On August 24, 2021, Newberry City Manager Mike New addressed the Alachua County BoCC and said it had taken more than 20 years to get to this point in establishing the CRA.

At the same meeting the Alachua County Commission approved the Newberry CRA plan, contingent upon City approval of the revised agreement. New said he realized the City Commission would have to also approve the changes voted on by the County, but felt he would not need to “twist any arms” to get the changes approved by his Commission. As it turned out he was right as Newberry city commissioners once again approved the agreement.at a Special City Commission meeting on Sept. 7, 2021. Ordinance 2021-45, which set forth the revised terms of the agreement, was unanimously approved on first reading by the Newberry City Commission following a public hearing.

The ordinance creates the Tax Increment Financing (TIF) trust fund for the Newberry Community Redevelopment Agency District where the annual TIF contributions from the City and County will be deposited.

Through the agreement with Alachua County, the Newberry CRA Plan runs for 20 years, beginning in 2021 and terminating in 2040. If the goals and initiatives of the CRA Plan have not been accomplished within the 20-year time horizon, the City and County commissions, through joint agreement, may choose to extend the CRA for an additional 20 years.

According to the City of Newberry, the ordinance is scheduled to be heard again for second reading and enactment at the Sept. 27 City Commission meeting following another public hearing.

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