Newberry Talks Future Growth

NEWBERRY ‒ Newberry City Commissioners got a glimpse of future growth in Newberry during the Jan. 11 City Commission meeting.  

A map depicting the known proposed residential, commercial and mixed-use developments was presented by Planning and Economic Development Director Bryan Thomas.  Thomas listed the projects and the various stages of development. 

Thomas said there were 10 projects in active development that would take 20-30 years to build out.  Of those projects, 3,545 would be single-family units and 1,350 would be multi-family units.  Using the school board’s methodology, Thomas said it is likely that during that time period 1,195 new students would be in the school system.  

For those projects with land use approval only, there are only two projects with an estimated 10-year timeframe for build out.  He said those projects would generate 355 total single-family units and no multi-family units, which are anticipated to create 94 new students.

He also provided a table of potential school impacts over a 20-year timeline, which showed an average per year of 87 students that would impact the school system in Newberry.  Taking into account the projects to be constructed, he produced another table showing an average of 349 housing units per year would come online.  

“We are nowhere near those averages this year,” he said.  “Last year was our banner year and we had 150 building permits.  This year we’ve had 123 for the 2021 calendar year, but with COVID, supplies haven’t been as available and so we’re slowing down.”  

Thomas added that the City is not anywhere near the average he referenced and that they are seeing a gradual increase in applications as a trend.

Following a presentation on the Newberry Urban Services Area Boundary and the Commercial Corridor Design Standards Update, the Commission tabled both items for a workshop format with a tentative date of Jan. 31.

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