Newberry Approves Highland Park CDD

NEWBERRY ‒ The Highland Park Community Development District (CDD) took a major step forward as the Newberry City Commission ON Feb. 24, 2025, approved the second reading of Ordinance 2025-01/LDR 24-27. This ordinance officially establishes a special taxing district to finance infrastructure and site development for the Highland Park Planned Development, a 104-acre residential community located at the southeast corner of State Road 26 and Southwest 242^nd Street.

The petition to establish the Highland Park CDD was submitted by Kilinski | Van Wyk, PLLC, on behalf of Newberry Plaza, LLC, the property owner. City of Newberry Principal Planner Jean-Paul W. Perez presented the ordinance at the commission meeting, noting that while some minor revisions were needed, they did not substantively alter the ordinance’s content.

A Community Development District (CDD) is a special-purpose government entity that allows developers to finance and manage infrastructure and amenities within a planned community. CDDs can issue tax-exempt bonds to fund roads, utilities, stormwater systems, recreational facilities, and other essential infrastructure. Once homes are sold, property owners within the district repay these costs through assessments on their annual property tax bills.

CDDs are commonly used in master-planned communities across Florida, providing a structured way to finance development without placing the financial burden on the local government.

The Highland Park Planned Development was approved in 2023 and has an estimated completion date of 2030. The Highland Park CDD will be responsible for funding and maintaining the infrastructure necessary to support the 350 single-family homes planned for the development. The creation of the Highland Park CDD ensures that essential services and infrastructure—such as roads, stormwater management, and utilities—are in place before residents move in.

During the meeting, five board members for the CCD were identified. Following discussions, Commissioner Mark Clark moved to adopt the ordinance, and Commissioner Tony Mazon seconded the motion. In a roll call vote, the ordinance was approved 4-1, with Commissioner Timothy Marden dissenting.

With the approval of the Highland Park CDD, developers can move forward with securing financing and beginning infrastructure construction.

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