Newberry Says ‘No’ To Another Joint City-County Meeting, County Kills Meat Processing Plant Deal

NEWBERRY – Nearly everything on the Newberry City Commission agenda for Aug. 14 was approved with the exception of one request. The Newberry City Commission wasn’t as agreeable with a request from the Alachua County Board of County Commission (BoCC) for another joint meeting. The Commission said it had been clear at the July 10 joint meeting and has not wavered on the commitment to offer the County acreage in Newberry for whatever projects they wish to place on the land.

An apparent sticking point is County Road 337. The road, which has been described as “dangerous,” would have increased traffic to and from any future project sites. At the July 10 meeting, Alachua County Public Works Director Ramon D. Gavarrete said CR 337 was scheduled for widening, but not until 2030. Newberry Mayor Jordan Marlowe and the Newberry Commission are holding out for the County to make road repairs sooner—in exchange for the City’s offer of property for the County’s use.

During the earlier meeting, Mayor Marlowe reminded BoCC members that the City was willing to provide land as part of the Newberry Environmental Park for property the County wanted to use for a rural waste collection center, meat processing facility (if they decide to go ahead with it) and a $250,000 fire training tower. In exchange, Marlowe asked the County to move the schedule up on repairs to CR 337 to the anticipated date the Environmental Park would be completed in 2026.

Newberry Commissioners see no reason for another meeting to rehash the same discussion. Mayor Marlowe will write a letter expressing the Commission’s decision and send it to the BoCC.

Impact Fees

Upon second reading of Ordinance 2023-14, which imposes impact fees on new construction, Commissioners voted 3 - 1 to approve with Commissioner Tim Marden voting in opposition. Assistant City Manager and Director of Finance and Administration Dallas Lee said implementing the impacts fees meets nine of the goals established by the City’s Strategic Goals and Objectives established during the previous year. “These fees help the City to maintain the current level of infrastructure services as the city grows,” he said.

Fees are to be imposed in the areas of public buildings, which includes new government buildings, a fire station and items to equip it. Also, multi-modal areas will be impacted by these fees which include streets, roads, and sidewalks.

Impact fee rates will be 60 percent of those suggested by an earlier study establishing what the fees should be beginning October 2023. Each year thereafter, the impact fees will be increased by 10 percent until Oct. 1, 2027, at which point the fees will reach the amount suggested by the earlier study.

Economic Development Incentive

A resolution establishing an Impact Fee Economic Development Incentive Program was also approved. Based on the number of employees a business hires and the wages paid to those employees, some economic development incentives will be offered to business owners who bring business into Newberry. All requests for economic development payments will come before the City Commission for approval.

Funding for Ag Tech Park

City Manager Mike New received approval to apply for a Phase One Strategy Development Grant for establishing a Regional Tech Hub in Newberry. The grant, if awarded, will provide $500,000 in funding with a nine to one match by the City. New said the Commission could turn down the grant if it was offered and the City didn’t have the matching funds.

Meat Processing Plant

Meanwhile, during a meeting Tuesday, Aug. 22, the Alachua County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) voted 3-2 to nix plans for the proposed meat processing facility in Newberry. Editor’s note: Please read the Aug. 31, 2023 edition of Alachua County Today for thorough and updated coverage.

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