Local
Tools
Typography

NEWBERRY – Newberry City Commissioners moved forward on a wide range of growth, land-use and infrastructure matters on Jan. 12, 2026, finalizing voluntary annexations totaling approximately 227 acres, approving agreements to improve roadway connectivity and advancing zoning and policy changes aimed at accommodating future development.

Commissioners unanimously approved Voluntary Annexation #40 on second reading, which included 11 annexation requests from seven applicants. According to Community Development Director Stacey Hectus, the latest action brings the total number of acres voluntarily annexed into the city over the past year to 430 acres.

The annexations were approved through a series of ordinances involving multiple petitioners and parcel locations across the city’s growth areas.

In addition to annexations, commissioners finalized an agreement between the City of Newberry and CSX to extend the city’s easement along Seaboard Drive. The project is intended to improve roadway connectivity for residents by allowing the city to construct a future road connection to Southwest 15th Street.

Under the agreement, the city will pay CSX $100,000 immediately and an additional $100,000 during the next budget cycle to secure the easement. City officials described the project as a long-term priority aimed at improving transportation options and connectivity.

Land-use and zoning changes advance

Commissioners also approved, on first reading, a small-scale future land use map amendment requested by JBrown Professional Group Inc., doing business as JBPRO, acting as agent for PBR Financials Inc. The request would change the designation of a 0.72-acre property at the southeast corner of Northwest Third Avenue and Northwest 251st Street from Residential Low Density to Residential High Density.

“A companion rezoning application will also be heard during this meeting,” said Newberry Principal Planner Jean-Paul Perez during his presentation.

The request had previously been reviewed by the Planning and Zoning Board, which recommended approval at its Dec. 1, 2025, meeting. A second reading is scheduled for Jan. 26, 2026.

During the same meeting, JBPRO Senior Planner Tara Howell indicated that the property owner plans to develop eight townhomes on the site.

A related rezoning request for the same property, changing the zoning district from Residential Single-Family (RSF-2) to Residential Multi-Family (RMF-2), was also approved following a quasi-judicial public hearing. That item will likewise return for second reading in January.

Accessory dwelling unit rules reviewed

Commissioners unanimously approved, on first reading, changes to the city’s Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) regulations as part of Ordinance 2025-74. Hectus said the review was prompted following Annexation #39.

“After Annexation #39, staff was asked to review our ADU guidelines to see how they compare to Alachua County’s ADU guidelines,” Hectus said. “A few people had commented that we are more strict as it relates to ADUs and were not interested in annexing into the City for that reason.”

Proposed changes include increasing the maximum ADU size from 1,000 square feet to 1,700 square feet, updating state agency references and allowing ADUs to connect to a primary home’s septic system on properties of 10 acres or more. The Planning and Zoning Board unanimously recommended approval, and the ordinance will return for second reading Jan. 26.

Utilities and capital projects approved

Commissioners also approved entering into a contract with Woodard & Curran for $342,000 in engineering services related to the Tanglewood Water Tower project, authorizing the city manager to approve change orders not exceeding 15 percent of the contract amount.

The item was presented by Director of Public Works and Utilities Rance Green and includes services for a water main extension and elevated storage tank to address capacity, fire flow, redundancy and future demand. The project is part of the city’s capital improvement plan and is funded through State Revolving Fund loans and grants, contingent upon approval from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

The project is expected to go out for bid in January 2026, with construction beginning in June 2026 and completion anticipated by May 2027.

#     #     #

Email cwalker@

alachuatoday.com

View Comments