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HIGH SPRINGS ‒ The High Springs City Commission on Oct. 27 approved rezoning 688 acres in a 3 – 1 vote with High Springs City Commissioner Katherine Weitz casting the dissenting vote.

The rezoning request remained a point of controversy for residents who oppose the proposed Bridlewood development and associated Ordinance 2022-18.

Although the developer, upon learning that Mayor Byran Williams would not be present at the Oct. 27 meeting, requested consideration of the proposed Bridlewood development be rescheduled to the November meeting, citizens requested that the issue go ahead as planned. The ordinance rezones the 687.81 acres from PD-1, Planned Development, and R-1, Residential, to PD-12 Planned Development. The property is located in the southern sector of the City east of U.S. Highway 41 near the City’s wastewater treatment plant.

Residents had earlier complained that the subdivision was too large and would cause traffic congestion and increase crime in the city.

At the Oct. 27 meeting, one citizen proposed that a referendum be voted on by residents instead of five people sitting as a Commission making a decision that affects all the citizens. He also said he wanted the City to use an independent engineer and not the developer’s engineer to “school” the Commission.

City Manager Ashley Stathatos responded that there have been several meetings open to the public at the Commission level and also at workshops at the Civic Center. “State statutes deal with how to deal with property rights and planning and zoning items, said Stathatos. “You cannot do a referendum on planning and zoning items, and we have had more meetings than I can count.”

The intent of the rezoning request is to develop the property as a master planned, mixed-use development consisting of single-family, multi-family, senior living facilities, nonresidential (commercial) uses, school facilities and public facilities.

Currently there are three existing plats on the property, Tamiami Gardens No. 3, 5 and 6 consisting of approximately 1,440 residential lots to which the developer has entitlements.

The Planned Development proposes 1,437 single-family lots ranging from 7,000 to 10,000 square feet. A maximum of 250 multi-family units and 200 senior living facilities are also proposed. Acreage for a school site, public facilities and non-residential development is included as well.

Another concern raised by a resident at the Oct. 27 meeting was reuse water being applied to lawns. The developer’s consultant, JBPro, Inc. Engineer Chris Potts, said that while the EPA has no regulations on this in the state of Florida, water coming out of a wastewater treatment plant is regulated more stringently than potable (drinking) water. Potts also said that the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) and Suwannee River Water Management District (SRWMD) prefer to use alternative methods for irrigation so that potable water can be extended further and that all state agencies will be applied to for permits included the Florida Department of Transportation, SRWMD and FDEP at the appropriate point in the process.

High Springs City Commissioner Katherine Weitz disagreed, saying that regulations on reuse water do not address nitrogen and phosphorus as well as other pollutants.

According to Weitz, the scope of the development and the rezoning is fairly new to people in town and she is in favor of another public meeting so citizens could have input. Stathatos responded that there have been numerous Commission meetings, Planning and Zoning Board meetings and workshops that have been above and beyond what the City would normally require. “I think we’re getting into dangerous territory to ask for more, more and more after three renditions of this application and changes that the developer has made based on previous citizen input,” Stathatos said. “I think we need to make a decision at this or the next meeting.”

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NEWBERRY ‒ The Newberry City Commission on Oct. 24 approved the Developer’s Agreement for Avalon Woods LLC Phase 2 and a resolution for approval of construction plans related to Phase 2.

Phase 2 is located east of US 27/State Road 45, on the north side of Northwest 16^th Avenue and consists of 26.59 +/- acres. The proposed population density of Phase 2 is approximately 10 persons per acre, with a building density of four per acre.

Conditions included in the agreement call for provision of utility infrastructure improvements, as well as who is responsible for which items and when. A total of 106 single-family residential units are planned for Phase 2.

The agreement calls for the City to provide potable water and sewer and the developer will extend service lines to accommodate the development. The Home Owners Association (HOA) documents are required to stipulate that the development is located next to a regional park with ball fields and other recreational uses from which lighting and noise may affect neighboring properties.

In a second action related to Avalon Woods Commissioners also unanimously approved a resolution for approval of construction plans related to Phase 2. Newberry Planning and Economic Development Director Bryan Thomas said the application was reviewed by the City’s Development Application Review Team (DART), and no objection was found with the request. The developer plans to develop the area defined as green space prior to beginning another phase of construction.

Lakota Subdivision

The Commission unanimously approved the Preliminary Plat and a special exception for a Small-Scale Rural Subdivision application for the proposed Lakota subdivision. The subdivision proposes 15 lots on 45.53 +/- acres with a density of one dwelling unit per three acres. The minimum lot size is two acres, and average lot size is 2.85 acres. Access is provided along the internal roads in the subdivision, which will be privately owned and maintained by a Homeowners Association (HOA). Electric utility services will be provided by Clay Electric. Potable water and wastewater services will be well and septic systems.

The developer voluntarily agreed to increase the undisturbed buffer from 25 feet to 40 feet along the western plat limits in lots five – eight and has agreed to a 50-foot perimeter buffer around the entire property. Ingress and egress is to 15^th Avenue and the subdivision will be a gated community. Concern about turnaround for emergency vehicles has been addressed, but will be considered further at a later hearing.

Prior to the acceptance of application for Final Plat, the developer is required to provide paving, grading and drainage drawings showing road access to lots five – seven.

Road Vacated

The City Commission has unanimously approved vacating a portion of Southwest 2^nd Avenue on first reading. The road is a 50-foot public right-of-way and runs between CSX Railroad right-of-way and Southwest 252^nd Street. It was created by plat dedication on the Original Newberry plat.

As the applicant was Mark and Betty Clark, Commissioner Clark stepped down from the dais and recused himself from consideration of the matter. The Clarks live at 180 S.W. 252^nd Street. Larry Lund, who lives at 210 S.W. 252^nd Street, is the owner south of the right-of-way and has signed the application consenting and accepting the vacation.

A power pole located in the middle of the right-of-way will remain and the City will maintain the easement. In vacating a roadway, the two property owners will receive half of the property or 25 feet each.

Entrance to Newberry

In other City business, the Commission has approved an “Entrance to Newberry” sign for approximately $40,000. City Project Manager Armon Lowery showed Commissioners three options for “Entrance to Newberry” signs. Commissioners voted for Option 1. The cost for masonry only is $22,800. However, by the time all is completed, the total cost will be approximately $40,000. An architectural drawing of the proposed sign will have to be completed prior to construction. City Manager Mike New said the funds are in the budget to pay for this expense. Commissioners also approved installing the sign at 202^nd Street and State Road 26/Newberry Road.

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ALACHUA ‒ Kobe Deon Delima, 20, of Newberry, was arrested on Oct. 18 and charged with aggravated fleeing and hit and run with property damage after allegedly fleeing a traffic stop and crashing into a fence on private property, then fleeing on foot. Two handguns were reportedly found in the car.

An Alachua Police Department (APD) officer reported that he attempted a traffic stop on a Kia Soul at about 3 a.m. on Tuesday near the intersection of Northwest 151^st Boulevard and Northwest 147^th Drive after the car ran a stop sign. The officer noted that the car immediately accelerated so quickly that it became airborne when it hit the railroad tracks near Peggy Road. The car was found a few minutes later in a private yard, with both airbags deployed and both front doors open. The officer wrote that the driver lost control on Northwest 142^nd Terrace, ran through the ditch on the east side of the road and crashed into a fence.

The officer reported that a search of the vehicle produced two loaded handguns, one on top of the center console and the other on the passenger side floorboard. Delima’s wallet was also reportedly in the center console and contained his driver’s license and bank cards showing his name.

Investigators identified Delima as the suspect and interviewed him at APD. During the interview, Delima was reportedly unable to provide a coherent explanation of the events of the previous night and provided inconsistent answers. Delima also reportedly had injuries consistent with airbag deployment.

Delima has been charged with aggravated fleeing with damage and hit and run with property damage. He has no criminal history, but he was arrested in 2020 for stealing a weed eater and entered into a deferred prosecution agreement. The agreement was revoked for failure to comply with conditions and the case was scheduled for a change of plea, but the charge was dropped and the hearing was canceled.

Judge Thomas Jaworski set bail in the current case at $30,000. The judge also ordered that Delima may not drive or possess firearms while on pre-trial release.

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NEWBERRY ‒ Newberry residents once again came out and expressed concerns about a 258-acre proposed development under consideration by the Newberry City Commission on Oct. 24.

The proposed Westone development straddles Southwest 15^th Avenue and Southwest 266^th Street/County Road 337. The Planned Residential Development (PRD) is laid out into two areas of residential development, with detached housing types located on the west side of CR 337 and a combination of attached and detached housing on the east side.

Citizens voiced concerns, including a request that the City require developers to hold a meeting with neighbors prior to considering a large development by the Planning and Zoning Board, overall loss of green space and traffic issues. Mayor Jordan Marlowe asked the developer to consider designing the crosswalk for golf carts as well as pedestrian traffic and that a roundabout might be considered to slow traffic in that area.

Area A, which is located on the west side of Southwest 266^th Street, contains the open space and proposes 590 detached single-family dwelling units. Area C, located on the east side of Southwest 266^th Street, contains no open space and proposes 260 detached and attached single-family dwelling units such as townhouses or row houses.

An application for a large-scale amendment to the City’s Future Land Use Plan Map was presented by JBPro Group, Inc.’s Director of Civil Engineering Chris Potts, acting as agent for property owners Jason, Mary, James, Connie, Paul, Tammy and Lewis Coleman and Austin, Emma and David Mattox. The amendment request changes the Future Land Use from Agriculture to Residential Low Density on the 258.3 +/- acres.

Potts said that the developers will provide a crosswalk across CR 337, a road which has been identified as dangerous because of curves. Alachua County has jurisdiction over CR337, and the developer must consult with the County regarding a crosswalk.

Conditions of approval included traffic calming measures, the CR 337 pedestrian crosswalk and completion of the open space prior to Phase 2 commencement.

Commissioners unanimously approved the large-scale amendment application and directed staff to transmit the application to the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) in Tallahassee for state review. The review process usually takes 30 – 45 days.

In a related matter, the Commission approved 3-1 to rezone the same 258.3 +/- acres from Agricultural (A) and Residential (Mixed) Single-Family/Mobile Home (RSF/MH-2) to Planned Residential Development (PRD). Commissioner Tony Mazon cast the dissenting vote.

The zoning change will allow detached single-family dwelling units on Area A and a combination of detached and attached single-family dwelling units on Area C.

Citizen concerns expressed were that a 10-foot buffer was not adequate unless a wall was also included at the front of the property. Residents also called for sidewalks and traffic mitigation. But the issue of greatest concern was that although an environmental study of the property had been performed, one resident said there was toxaphene on the property that should be mitigated prior to construction.

According to Potts, the Department of Environmental Protection would be reviewing the application and the City will get feedback from the County if they believe the environmental study was not adequate.

A traffic study will be done during the final development approval stage and that will dictate what improvements need to be made to the road to mitigate traffic issues. Potts said the traffic study would determine what improvements need to be made to the road prior to each phase of development. If improvements are not made, the development will not continue into the next phase until the required improvements for that phase have been completed.

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GAINESVILLE ‒ Alachua County Fire Rescue (ACFR) reported that one person was extricated and four people were transported to the hospital following a high-speed rear-end collision at the intersection of Northwest 43^rd Street and U.S. Highway 441 between Alachua and Gainesville. The incident occurred at approximately 8 p.m., Oct. 26.

ACFR responded with Gainesville Fire Rescue and multiple law enforcement agencies. All northbound lanes of U.S. Highway 441 were closed until 10:30 p.m. while the accident was cleared.

According to a Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), a 2007 Lexus, driven by a 45-year-old Alachua person, was traveling north on U.S. 441, after turning left from Northwest 43^rd Street. The Lexus had two passengers, a 20-year-old Alachua man and a 44-year-old female, also from Alachua.

A 2002 GMC pickup truck driven by a 20-year-old Branford man disregarded the red light and struck the rear of the Lexus. After the initial collision the pickup truck came to a final rest in the left northbound lane. The Lexus came to a final rest on the east shoulder.

A third vehicle, a 2017 Nissan driven by a 41-year-old Alachua woman, was traveling north on U.S. Hwy 441. The driver failed to notice the disabled/stopped pickup truck in the left lane until the front of the Nissan struck the rear of the pickup truck.

A fourth vehicle, a 2017 Toyota driven by a 40-year-old Gainesville woman failed to slow or stop in time. The front of her Toyota struck the rear of the Nissan. Two passengers were also in the Toyota, a 10-year-old female and a 12-year-old boy, both from Gainesville.

Significant damage was done to two of the vehicles and FHP listed the driver of the pickup truck and the driver and passengers in the Lexus as serious. One patient was removed with the “Jaws of Life,” and ACFR reported that four patients were transported to the hospital with injuries ranging from minor to severe. The driver/passengers in the Nissan and Toyota were listed with no injuries based on the FHP report.

Alachua Police Department reported that three patients were transported in critical condition.

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HIGH SPRINGS ‒ It was a day of fun celebrating the autumn season as High Springs held its First Annual Fall Festival on Saturday, Oct. 22 under a clear sunny sky and mild fall weather. Several local organizations combined their efforts and events to produce a city-wide collection of activities celebrating the fall and Halloween.

The Fall Festival was organized by the High Springs Chamber of Commerce, and the event was located on the grounds of the High Springs Museum, which also sponsored several other events in conjunction with the festival. The chamber brought in vendors selling a variety of art and products along with several food vendors including the High Springs Lions Club. But the festival was just part of the variety of a full day of fun in the downtown area.

The High Springs Museum also sponsored a BBQ contest, gave tours of the museum, displayed a model train exhibition for the kids and later hosted a ghost tour around town. The ghost tour started at the Museum, which is allegedly haunted by a former teacher when the building was the town school, and ended at the Grady House, another place in town with a reputation for being haunted. The model train exhibition featured several train collectors who set up displays with running trains inside the museum.

The BBQ contest attracted a number of competitors for prizes and bragging rights in categories for pork, chicken and ribs, as well as an over-all winners award for “Pit Boss.” Winners in each category were: Pork and Chicken - Jeannee Que; Ribs and Salads - Good BBQ; and the “Pit Boss” winners were Jeannee Que and Gary Blevins. Cash prices were awarded for 1^st to 3^rd place in each category with $100 for 3^rd place, $150 for 2^nd place and $200 for 1^st place. The Pit Boss winner received $300.

The High Springs New Century Women's Club sold sandwiches, hot dogs and baked goods to provide funding to a local day care center and an environmental organization with a focus on river cleanups and other environmental issues.

In the downtown district, 15 businesses offered candy to young trick or treaters who came by in costume. The Kiwanis Club held their annual pumpkin decorating contest held at the Farmers Market off Main Street. Local residents brought in 36 pumpkins they had decorated, many by children involved in art classes at the Good News Art Gallery. To keep the competition fair, there were three age groups consisting of up to 6 years old, 7-12 years and 13 to adult. There were also two groups for organizations or businesses.

Josephine Web won 1^st place in the up to 6 category. Elise Knutson won the 7-12 category as well as a $50 prize from the High Springs CRA for the best representation of High Springs with her carved out pumpkin filled with blue jello and miniature figure representing Poe Springs. Local artist Larry Behnke took first place in the 13 and up category with his “Purple People Eater” pumpkin.

Prizes were given for 1^st to 3^rd place winners in each category. For the younger children, they received a Halloween basket full of candy, prizes and ice cream certificates from Fla Creamery. The older children's group received Halloween baskets with candy, crayons, prizes, coupons from Hardees and free Ice Cream from Florida Creamery. The 13 and up group received woven baskets with a candle and shirt from Bird’s Nest, a gift certificate from Lanza Gallery, and coupons from Lion’s Lair, Pink Flamingo, Steak Out, Woman’s Club spaghetti dinner, and Bambi’s Cafe. There were also awards given to Reva Huey for Refined Furniture for the business entry and a coupon for $100 in pizza was awarded to the High Springs Parks and Recreation Department for the city employees’ entry.

Joining forces by combining multiple events provided visitors a wide variety of activities and entertainment throughout a busy day. “We were very pleased with the results and efforts of everyone to make this a success,” said Chamber President Sharon Johns Decker. Everyone had fun and the vendors did well on sales. They were all asking to sign up for next year’s event already.”

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