Newberry Backtracks on Open Beverage Containers

NEWBERRY – On Dec. 12, The City of Newberry Commission did an about face on an earlier decision to allow open consumption of beer and wine in the city. Although the Newberry City Commission approved an ordinance on first reading on Nov. 14, which would have amended the City’s Alcoholic Beverages regulations, three of the five Commissioners voted against passage of the same ordinance upon second reading at the Dec. 12 meeting. Ordinance 2022-48 would have allowed open consumption of beer and wine within a defined area during special events sanctioned by the City.

During discussion in November, the Commission asked that the approved area be reduced from two blocks to one block. But even with the reduction, Commissioners Monty Farnsworth, Tim Marden and Rick Coleman expressed concerns that people who would be drinking would have to cross State Road 26 to get to the festival area along the south Seaboard Drive right-of-way.

Commissioners Mark Clark and Tony Mazon suggested that the City approve the ordinance and try it one time to determine whether any serious problems would arise. Coleman said he didn’t think the ordinance was appropriate for their small town and others raised concerns about the City’s liability.

Rezoning

The City Commission has approved a request to change the zoning from Residential (Mixed) Single-Family/Mobile Home (RSF/MH-2) to Planned Residential Development (PRD) on 48.2 +/- acres. The vacant property is located on the east side of Northwest 266^th Street, between Northwest 8^th Lane and Northwest 3^rd Place.

The current zoning requires a minimum lot size of 10,000 square feet, which only allows 145 dwelling units. The zoning change to PRD would allow the developer to establish his own lot sizes and setbacks. He is proposing a lot size of 6,600 square feet within the first area, referred to as Area 1 and 5,500 square feet in Area 2. Over one-third of the site is open space and stormwater retention area.

The proposed lot sizes will allow for 30 – 40 homes in Area 1, the northern most area, and 130 – 140 in Area 2. Director of Planning Clay Sweger of eda consultants, inc., agent for Pat M. Post, property owner, said there was a possibility that 16 tiny homes may be part of the Area 2 lot configuration, but that has not been decided at this point. Sweger also said that the proposed zoning change would provide a lower density than the current zoning allows.

Roadway capacity and level of service have already been considered in the FDOT project for the two-lane, one-way pair project for West Newberry Road and Northwest 1^st Avenue.

“This project is expected to improve infrastructure in the CRA district with roadway paving and improvement and the extension of water and sewer to unserved areas,” said City of Newberry Principal Planner Jean-Paul Perez.

Capacity for utility services will be reviewed upon receipt by the City of a final development plan or construction plans.

The zoning change was unanimously approved and will be heard again for second reading on Jan. 9.

Building Fees

In other City business, the Commission unanimously approved an ordinance on first reading to remove building permit fees from the City’s Code of Ordinances. Once the ordinance is approved on second reading, City staff will submit a proposed resolution recommending adjusted rates. In the future, building fees will be approved by resolution during the annual budgeting process along with all other City fees.

“Building fees have not been updated since 2003,” said Planning and Economic Development Director Bryan Thomas.

Legislative Agenda

Every year the City of Newberry develops a Legislative Agenda, which is a compilation of the City’s priority needs for consideration in the upcoming legislative session.

Speaking about last year’s list of 21 items, City Manager Mike New said, “Although the City was successful in several areas including receiving a $2.5 million allocation from the legislature for our wastewater treatment plant expansion…the anticipated cost for expansion of wastewater treatment facilities is estimated to cost $40 million.”

New recommended, and the Commission agreed, to request an appropriation of $4 million funding for construction of a regional wastewater treatment facility in western Alachua County. This would also include requesting the legislature to support funding for grant loan programs in the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) for expansion of wastewater treatment facilities.

New said that while Trenton is not going to join with Newberry, Archer and High Springs on the regional wastewater treatment facility, they will be included as one of the 15 cities recycling dried biosolids.

A second item he thought the City should sponsor is IFAS’ ask for $10 million in funding to construct an agricultural research incubator facility in Newberry’s Ag-tech Innovation.

CRA Funds

New announced that the anticipated CRA Fund amount from Alachua County was understated. The County’s initial estimate was $100,000, but the correct amount is $320,000.

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