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NEWBERRY ‒ Cory Shawn Pariseau, 32, was arrested on Friday, June 24, and charged with sexual assault on a 16-year-old female victim. The Alachua County Sheriff’s Office responded to a call asking for a well-being check on someone believed to be suicidal.

When officers arrived, they found Pariseau, who was accused of having sex with the caller’s 16-year-old daughter.

Following an interview with the juvenile, she confirmed that the two had sex when she was 16 years old.

Officers attempted to interview Pariseau, but post Miranda he requested an attorney and the officer terminated the interview.

Currently, Pariseau is being held on $100,000 bond in the Alachua County Jail on a charge of sexual battery on a 16-year-old victim.

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HIGH SPRINGS ‒ The City of High Springs has set the next municipal election for Nov. 8, 2022 to fill Seat #3.

Currently, Commissioner Linda Jones occupies that seat, and according to City records, was elected in November 2016. She served as vice mayor during her 2017-18 and 2020-21 terms and as mayor in 2018-19.

Individuals interested in running for a City Commission seat must be a registered voter in the City of High Springs and must reside within the City limits.

In order to formally qualify, candidates must file the appropriate paperwork with the Office of the City Clerk during business hours during the qualifying period, which is Monday, July 18 – Thursday, July 21. The term of office is three years.

The qualifying fee to run for a City Commission seat is one percent of the salary of the office sought. Currently, commission salaries are set at $10,800 per year, which sets the qualifying fee at $108. Candidates can file a waiver called an Affidavit of Undue Burden in lieu of the qualifying fee. The High Springs City Clerk will provide more details to interested parties during the qualifying period.

In other City business, at the May 26 Commission meeting, Commissioners directed staff to negotiate an agreement with Attorney Maurice McDaniel for provision of special magistrate services for the City. During the June 23 meeting, the Commission unanimously approved an agreement for a two-year period, which will be automatically renewed on a yearly basis unless terminated by either party prior to the expiration of the current term. The agreement will remain in effect until completion of the work assignment if he is in the middle of a project.

In exchange for his duties, McDaniel will be paid $200 per hour for each hour with a minimum of eight hours per month or $1,600. At six months, both parties will evaluate the minimum hours per month and assess whether to raise of lower the hour amount at that time.

City Manager Ashley Stathatos said she knew McDaniel’s services would be required for at least eight hours a month as the workload is behind at this time.

Following a presentation by Opioid Task Force Chair Joy Glanzer, Commissioners voted to provide $10,000 of ARPA funds for an awareness campaign to help get the word out about the seriousness of the opioid crisis in this part of Florida.

Glanzer explained that the Children’s Trust will receive the funds and will put out the requests for proposals related to the awareness program.

Commissioner Linda Jones volunteered to be the City’s representative on that Board.

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NEWBERRY ‒ Tiny homes are one step closer to reality in Newberry as the Newberry City Commission unanimously approved two actions that may lead to development of the first tiny home residential community in the city. The Commission approved Ordinance 2022-23/CPA 22-02 on Second Reading to change the Future Land Use Map from Agriculture to Planned Development on 5.75 +/- acres (Parcel No. 02544-003-006). The property is located immediately north of the Newberry Town Center Planned Development – south of Southwest 15^th Avenue, east of State Road 45. for Newberry’s During the June 27 City Commission meeting,

A small-scale comprehensive plan amendment was requested by Christopher Potts, P.E., agent for Norfleet Properties, LLLP, owners. “The property is vacant agricultural land,” said Newberry Planning and Economic Development Director Bryan Thomas.

Commissioners also conducted a quasi-judicial public hearing on Second Reading of Ordinance 2022-24/LDR 22-04 to consider an application to amend the zoning on the same 5.75 +/- acres. The change would add the acreage to the Country Way at Newberry Town Square Planned Development, amending the Preliminary Master Plan and the associated Development Order and Developer’s Agreement.

The current number of single-family residential units will not change. The gross residential density after the amendment will be 3.74 units per acre, while the total of 50 apartments and 180,000 square feet of commercial development will remain the same.

Although the proposed amendment will not change the maximum number of residential units or commercial square footage allowed under the Newberry Town Center PD, the amendment to the Preliminary Master Plan will allow for tiny homes within the development, which are not presently allowed.

Prior to further residential development on the additional area, a preliminary plat and construction plans will have to be presented for review and commercial development will require site and development plan review and approval.

Rezoning

In other business, a quasi-judicial public hearing was held for an application to rezone 1.69 +/- acres from Residential, Single-Family to Planned Development (Parcel Numbers 02282-000-000 and 02235-000-000).

The application was submitted by Tocknell Planning Services LLC, agent for Morlynn Properties LLC, owner, to amend the City’s Official Zoning Atlas by changing the zoning from Residential, Single-Family-2 (RSF-2) to Planned Development (PD). The property is located within the Economic Overlay and Historic Districts.

The site is a full block bounded by Southwest 1^st Avenue to the north, Southwest 257^th Street to the east, Southwest 2^nd Avenue to the south and Southwest 258^th Street to the west.

“Because the property is in the Economic Development Overlay District, no change to the future land use category of Residential Low-Density is required,” Thomas said. The property is also partially located within the City’s Historic District. The site is adjacent to City of Newberry potable water, electric and City roadways. Sanitary sewer must be extended to the site prior to development.

The Overlay District refers to the main corridors leading into Newberry, which are State Road 26/Newberry Road and U.S. Highway 27/41. Regulations were created to establish design guidelines to help developers create attractive properties that are functional, but are also are aesthetically pleasing along the entrances to Newberry.

Barrington Rural Subdivision

The proposed development is an infill project that will add 14 cottage-style single family townhomes to the site, while leaving the existing single-family house as is. A central alley will bisect the block and automotive access to each lot will be provided via the alley. The homes will be 1,100 – 1,200 sq. ft. in size.

The application also requests a variance from the requirement of a minimum 10 percent of the development to be devoted to common open space, which is not practical due to the size limitations of the parcel.

The application was unanimously approved with a requirement that the townhouse design is reviewed and approved by the Historic Architectural Review Board (HARB) because the property is partially in the City’s Historic District.

Commissioners approved Resolution 2022-37/SD 22-09, an application by eda consultants, inc., agent for Hawley Family Holdings, LLC, owner, for approval of construction plans related to a plat entitled Barrington.

The property as generally located at the northwest corner of Southwest 15^th Avenue and Southwest 170^th Street (04371-001-000).

Currently, the City of Newberry is under contract with eda consultants, inc. for survey and engineering services and they currently operate in the capacity of the City Surveyor. Due to the conflict, the City has contracted with Chris Potts, P.E. of JBPro, Inc. in lieu of eda consultants, inc.

The project includes 23 developable lots and common areas on an 84 +/- acre site. The average density is expected to be one unit per 3.62 acres with a minimum lot size of two acres and including detached single-family homes.

The Development Application Review Team (DART) reviewed and found no objection with the request. JBPro submitted engineering comments, which the property owner has agreed to resolve.

Commissioners also heard and approved a request on the same property for final plat approval of the. JBPro is again acting in lieu of eda consultants.

JBPro has reviewed the Barrington rural subdivision plat for compliance with applicable state law and City of Newberry Land Development Regulations and recommended approval.

Hawley Family Holdings, LLC and Barwick Bank, have provided a $652,800 surety agreement for completion of required infrastructure improvements.

Small Cities CDBG Application

In other business, Summit Professional Services, Inc.’s President Scott Modesitt requested authorization to prepare an application for a $700,000 Florida Small Cities Community Development Block Grant for Fiscal Year 2021-2022.

Modesitt reviewed the grant and explained its purpose and how it worked. He listed three categories the City could apply to for grant funding but suggested submittals for either the category of Housing Rehabilitation or Neighborhood Revitalization.

The Commission authorized Summit to prepare an application for the Neighborhood Revitalization grant category and also authorized the firm to prepare an application in the Economic Development category, should an eligible project be identified at a later date.

Local Supports Grants Program

City Manager Mike New reported that the Florida Legislature included a new initiative in the FY 2022-23 budget for a Local Supports Grants Program for nonrecurring funding for local governments, education entities, or privately operated programs to support local initiatives. New said that funding requests must be submitted electronically by July 15. Applications must be submitted to a House member who will sponsor the application on behalf of the applicant. New anticipate that State Representative Chuck Clemons will support the City’s application.

“Staff discussed several projects for the program, but given our understanding the parameters for consideration, [we] identified purchase of the quint fire apparatus as a high priority project for Newberry that would likely rank high with the evaluating committee,” said New.

The City Commission authorized acquisition of a replacement quint when it adopted the FY 2021 – 2022 budget. The quint was ordered in last fall at a cost of $780,000. The City planned to borrow money to purchase the new quint and repay the loan from an increase in the City’s fire assessment. Instead, staff proposes to apply to the program for 50 percent, or $400,000, of the total cost. “We intend to pledge the $400,000 balance as a local match for in the grant application,” New said. Commissioners voted unanimously to authorize the City Manager to apply for the grant funds as he described.

New announced that a workshop on what impact fees will look like in Newberry will take place at 6:30 p.m., July 18.

Consideration and approval of a new Urban Services Area boundary map was put on hold as the County Commission is considering changes that might require Newberry to adjust the map again in the near future. Mayor Jordan Marlowe said he’d rather do this once rather than having to adjust the map again. Marlowe is meeting with County Commissioners in the next few days.

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NEWBERRY ‒ Newberry’s Milam Funeral Home is planning to build a pet crematorium at its current location. Newberry’s Board of Adjustment conducted a quasi-judicial public hearing on June 27 to consider the application for site and development plan for the 720-square-foot pet crematorium building ancillary to Milam Funeral Home at 22405 West Newberry Road.

Newberry’s Principal Planner Jean-Paul Perez said the request was for a pre-engineered metal building with roll-up doors. The property is located in the Commercial General (CG) zoning district and has a future land designation of Commercial.

“The funeral home is permitted by-right as a ‘service establishment’ within the CG zoning district,” said Perez. The pet crematorium is a use typically associated with and ancillary to a funeral home. “As such,” Perez said, “the proposed use is in conformity with the City’s Land Development Regulations.

The property abuts West Newberry Road/State Road 26, a corridor that is pending approval of an overlay district that provides regulations on landscaping and other design standards. The overlay ordinance was heard at first reading before the City Commission on June 13. While the ordinance for these regulations has not been formally adopted and enacted by the Commission, the business owner has agreed to comply with the regulations.

Perez said that the existing funeral home has a green standing seam metal roof with horizontal white wood cladding and is appropriately designed for the era in which it was constructed. He further said that matching the architectural treatment of the pet crematorium building with the funeral home will enhance the aesthetics of the property.

The pre-engineered building also has roll-up doors, which the overlay district regulations prohibit from facing the right-of-way. To be in compliance with the overlay district regulations, staff recommends the pet crematorium building be oriented so that the roll-up doors are not visible from the public right-of-way.

In addition, because the building will be occupied, it must comply with all life safety standards required by the Florida Building Code, National Fire Code and the City of Newberry Code of Ordinances. This includes, but is not limited to, exit signs, proper ventilation and egress and availability of fire suppression.

The property is currently serviced by septic and well. Perez said that if water and wastewater services are extended to the property, the owner must connect to City services within 12 months of notification of the availability and pay all applicable fees.

The Planning and Zoning Board heard this application at their June 14 meeting and specified the owner must comply with these conditions.

Perez said that staff recommends the Board of Adjustment approve Resolution 2022-30/SDP 22-09 with the owner’s compliance with the listed conditions.

Board Member Tony Mazon made a motion, which was seconded by Board Member Tim Marden, to approve the site and development plan as discussed. Resolution 2022-30/SDP 22-09 was unanimously approved.

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NEWBERRY ‒ The Newberry Board of Adjustment approved at their June 13 meeting an application for site and development plan for the first phase of Treehouse Village RV Resort, a recreation vehicle resort. The design calls for 300 sites and 14,430 square feet of clubhouse, resort store and bath facilities. The plan includes parking, stormwater and utilities.

The plan was submitted by JBPro Engineering, acting as agent for M3 RV Land, LLC, owner. The property is approximately 44.96 +/- acres and is located at 2120 N.W. State Road 45 (tax parcel 01879-002-000).

The Board approved the plan subject to approval of a fire hydrant plan from the Newberry Fire Department.

In other Board business, a second public hearing was for site and development plan approval for a new commercial building in CountryWay Town Square in the Planned Development Zoning District.

The new construction is for 29,193 square feet of gross floor area with the 13,194 square foot first floor used for commercial use and the second floor used for 12 residential apartments. The plan also includes associated site developments including parking and utilities.

The property is located on the north side of Southwest 18^th Road between Southwest 248^th Drive and Southwest 249^th Drive within CountryWay Town Square in the Newberry Town Center “PD” Planned Development Zoning District.

City Planner Alayna Jackson said that the Planning and Zoning Board heard the application on May 2 and unanimously agreed to recommend approval of the application to the Board of Adjustment.

The Board unanimously approved the site and development plan.

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LEVY COUNTY - The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) announced on June 29 that a total of 12 derelict vessels will be removed from the waterways of Levy County.

There are five vessels to be removed from the Withlacoochee River, with one of those being removed on a Citrus County removal contract. Another vessel, a concrete hull shrimp boat that has been there for more than 20 years, will be taken out of the Wacassassa River. Another six derelict vessels will be removed from the waterways surrounding Cedar Key.

Work began June 21 with the removal of the “Miss Katherine,” a 38-foot shrimp boat.

“The ‘Miss Katherine’ has been derelict for several years and has been obstructing the Withlacoochee River,” explained Lt. Robert Johnston, FWC area lieutenant in Levy County.

The contractor removing the vessels is Sammy Royal with Sea Tow in Horseshoe Beach.

The DV Removal Project in Levy County is being funded by an FWC Direct Removal Project, using funding that may only be used by FWC to contract removal projects.

“We also have another program where local governments can apply for grants to remove derelict vessels. This has been exhausted for FY 21/22; however, we are now accepting local government applications for the FY 22/23 budget. This funding will be available beginning July 1 for local DV removal grants,” said Phil Horning, FWC Boating and Waterways.

Both FWC and local governments will continue to remove derelict vessels throughout the state at the same time. With both processes working simultaneously, more derelict vessels removals can occur throughout the state.

“I’ve been assigned to Levy County for the past 17 years and some of these vessels were here before I arrived,” said Johnston. “Seeing these derelict vessels finally removed means so much to me and my crew. I’m glad to see these go."

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