Local

NEWBERRY ‒ Newberry residents may soon have a new option for upscale coffee and more as the Newberry Board of Adjustment (BOA) approved a site and development plan petition for a new drive-through café. JBrown Professional Group, Inc., agent for Preston Property Development, LLC, owner, submitted the request for approval for approximately 950 square feet of drive-through café and related site development on 1.26 +/- acres for an Elliano’s Coffee. The site is located at the southwest corner of West Newberry Road/State Road 26 and Doc Karelas Drive.

The proposed drive-through café provides drive-through windows on both the east and west façades with an approach on north and south. Site access is provided on the east from Southwest 246^th Terrace. The future retail building was not included with this application and will require separate Site and Development Approval.

The building and landscaping will be developed with the anticipated standards and regulations included in the City of Newberry’s Gateway Overlay District regulations.

REO Fire Truck

BOA members also approved a Site and Development Plan application for an approximately 500-square-foot building ancillary to the City of Newberry Fire Department Building. The building is intended for storage and display of the antique 1954 REO Fire Truck and will be located at 310 N.W. 250^th Street. The zoning is Commercial Intensive (CI).

The building will have a glass wall on the north façade. Additional pathways and landscaping are also proposed to improve the areas around the structure. The building will provide a new home for the vehicle as well as provide display given its historic qualities.

In approving the application, Board members asked staff to meet with the building’s architect and engineer to determine if a center column could be removed to improve visibility of the fire truck. They also requested staff consider raising the elevation of the building.

Although the basic design and styling of the chassis remained consistent, the REO Speed Wagon, which was produced by REO Motor Car Company from 1915 – 1954, was manufactured in a variety of configurations to serve as delivery, tow, dump and fire trucks, as well as hearses and ambulances. The REO Speed Wagon was designed by Ransom Eli Olds and subsequently took on the designer’s initials.

After decommissioning the fire truck by the Alachua County Fire Department, the truck was used in City parades to carry City Commissioners during various celebrations.

“This fire truck provides a connection to historical events and persons of importance to the City of Newberry and it is being preserved for its connection with the past, its craftsmanship and honors the legacy of firemen that have served the citizens of Newberry,” said City of Newberry planner Jean-Paul Perez.

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GAINESVILLE – Santa Fe College is collecting supplies this week that are needed for people who were severely impacted by Hurricane Ian.

Santa Fe is partnering with Lake City’s Florida Gateway College to send the needed supplies to sister Florida College System institution State College of Florida – Manatee Sarasota. There are at least 50 employees of that college who have lost everything in the aftermath of the hurricane.

“The Santa Fe College community has always risen to the occasion to support those in need,” Santa Fe President Paul Broadie II, Ph.D. said. “I encourage everyone who has the ability, to support our effort to provide aid to those in need.”

All week long, Santa Fe is collecting valuable supplies that can be used to support communities impacted by the storm. The following items are needed: toothpaste, toothbrushes, paper towels, diapers, soap, socks, bleach, cleaning supplies, hand wipes, hairbrushes, T-shirts, flashlights, batteries, sunscreen, feminine products, deodorant, dog food, cat food and tarps.

On Monday, Oct. 10, Florida Gateway College will be bringing one of their semi-trucks in the college’s CDL program to Santa Fe College to collect the additional supplies before heading to the area impacted by the storm.

Santa Fe College will put updates on the college’s SF Alerts page – sfcollege.edu/alerts – with information on drop-off locations on the Northwest Campus and Santa Fe centers across Alachua and Bradford counties.

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ALACHUA ‒ The Alachua City Commission on Sept. 26 approved the Preliminary Plat and Final PD Plan for Fletcher Trace that will allow for 472 housing units. The property is located east of CR 235, south of Pilot Forest and north of Northwest 110^th Avenue. The proposed development consists of the subdivision of a ±118.2-acre property into 472 lots, with associated common areas and right-of-way.

The development as proposed will include 128 single-family attached units and 344 single family detached units. Approval was conditioned upon a 100 percent gopher tortoise survey for the property, which must be submitted with any application for a final plat and to utilize standard measures for protection for the Eastern Indigo Snake.

During the construction plan approval process associated with Phases 8, 9, and 10, a geotechnical engineer is to review any geological features identified in the geotechnical report and provide recommendations on whether or not remedial actions are required.

The Planned Development – Residential zoning designation for the property was approved by the City Commission on April 25, 2022 through Ordinance 22-10. At the Sept. 13, 2022 Planning and Zoning Board hearing, the Board voted 3-0 in favor of forwarding the application to the City Commission with a recommendation to approve.

In other business, the Kiwanis Club of Santa Fe gifted teddy bears to the Alachua Police Department. Kiwanis Club president Sue Weller and Kiwanis secretary Tom Weller presented 55 teddy bears to Alachua Police Chief Jesse Sandusky. The Kiwanis Club collected teddy bears to donate to both the High Springs and Alachua police departments so that officers can carry them in their patrol cars to help calm children they encounter in traumatic or stressful situations. A teddy bear can make a difference in the life of a child who has experienced trauma at crime scenes, accidents, domestic violence calls and other incidents. Thanking the Kiwanis Club, Chief Sandusky said the teddy bears are valuable for both police officers and children in stressful situations, providing emotional comfort to a child and helping officers work through other aspects of the crisis.

The City of Alachua is playing a visible role this year in the fight against breast cancer. About 42,000 women and 500 men in the U.S. die each year from breast cancer, and October is recognized every year as National Breast Cancer Awareness month. In support of the ongoing battle against breast cancer, the City of Alachua has launched its “Alachua Goes Pink!” campaign. Pink ribbons are displayed on the City’s fleet vehicles, the Alachua Police Department decals one of its traffic units and staff members wear commemorative bracelets and pins in an effort to raise awareness about the disease.

The Commission proclaimed September as American Pharmacist Month with a proclamation recognizing that pharmacists are important members of a health care team as they are well versed in medications, the effects they produce in the body, and how medications interact or interfere with each other. In addition to safely providing medicine, pharmacists offer many other services as part of their commitment to helping patients live healthier lives. Local pharmacist Dr. William Garst received the proclamation presented by the Commission.

The Commission filled two openings on the Senior Resource Advisory Board (SRAB). James (Jim) Curington and Karen Reed were each appointed to a three-year term. The SRAB is a five-member board that meets quarterly serving in an advisory role to the City Commission by providing information on issues of importance to senior citizens in the community.

In other business, the commission approved on first reading a request to amend the City of Alachua Land Development Regulations (LDRs) to allow self-service storage units as a permitted use in the Light and Warehouse Industrial (ILW) zoning district. On Sept. 13, 2022, the Planning & Zoning Board held a public hearing and voted 3-0 to send the request to the City Commission with a recommendation to approve. The City Commission is expected to consider this action on second and final reading at the Oct. 10, 2022 Commission meeting.

The Commission also approved on second and final reading a Large-Scale Comprehensive Plan Amendment (LSCPA) for a proposed development along Peggy Road. The action on the 51.7-acre property changes the zoning and land use to Planned Development, Moderate Density Residential, which would permit up to four units per acre allowing for 206 total units. The property is located south of Peggy Road and Legacy Park, north of CSX rail right-of-way, east of Interstate – 75.

In other City business, the Commission approved ratification of the 2022-23 – 2024-25 Alachua Police Department Collective Bargaining Agreement. The new agreement for take home vehicles by sworn officers permits use within or outside Alachua County but now restricts distance to 20 driving miles from the APD facility at 15000 N.W. 142^nd Terrace. Historically, take home vehicle use has been restricted to Alachua County.

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HIGH SPRINGS – Deeper Purpose Community Church is deploying on Oct. 6 a team of staff and volunteers to the hard-hit areas of South Florida..

They began collecting bottled water/drinks, feminine hygiene products, non-perishable food and snacks for kids, diapers, formula, blankets, socks and underclothes of all sizes, soap and light medical supplies on Sept. 30.

“Call to find out the many ways in which donations can be made to help support the families who are going through this rough time right now,” said Pastor Adam Joy. “We are so much better together.”

Every donation will certainly help the many families who are in shelters and have lost everything. Monetary contributions are also appreciated.

For questions or to make donations, contact Deeper Purpose Community Church at 386-454-5300 or 352-474-9040.

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NEWBERRY ‒ Contravious Alexander Bedford, 30, was arrested Sept. 27 and charged with burglary, theft, property damage and battery after allegedly trying to force his way into the same Newberry residence twice in two days.

The first 911 call was at 8:52 p.m. on Monday, Sept. 26, when Bedford’s former girlfriend reported that Bedford had knocked on the door of the home. She said she leaned on it to hold it closed because it hadn’t been fully repaired following a previous incident in which Bedford had kicked the door in and had broken the door handle.

The victim was reportedly on the phone with the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office Combined Communications Center when Bedford allegedly pushed into the home, grabbed the phone out of her hand and threw it into the yard. The victim said that she gathered her children and put them in her car. Before she was able to get into the vehicle, Bedford threw a cup of juice on her. She said that she and her children locked themselves in her car until Bedford left.

An Alachua County Sheriff’s deputy who responded to that call reported that the front door was damaged and there was sticky juice on the victim’s car. Because Bedford had already left, the deputy completed a sworn complaint.

On Sept. 27 at 10:15 a.m. the next morning, the same victim called 911 again, and a deputy again responded. This time, Bedford was still at the residence. Spontaneously he said that he had been at the residence the night before and was just trying to gather some property and leave.

Bedford was arrested on the charges from the previous night. A small foil pouch was found in his pocket, which, Bedford reportedly said was “molly.” The substance tested positive for MDPV, a DEA federal schedule I drug.

Bedford was charged with burglary, theft, property damage over $200, obstructing communication with law enforcement and battery in the Sept. 26 incident, with bail set at $90,000.

He has also been ccharged with burglary and possession of a controlled substance in the Sept. 27 incident, with bail set at $75,000.

Bedford has four felony convictions, two of which were violent, and has served two state prison sentences, with his most recent release in 2014.

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ALACHUA ‒ Shoppers and visitors in downtown Alachua will soon find parking more convenient. On Sept. 26, City of Alachua officials, staff and local business owners gathered in a dirt lot behind Conestoga’s Restaurant. They were there for a groundbreaking ceremony for a new paved parking lot for downtown businesses, customers and visitors.

Located between Main Street and Northwest 142^nd Terrace, part of the dirt lot had been used for parking on a patch of land the city has owned for many years. But the spaces available were limited and the lot was on uneven ground with the surrounding land owned by various businesses and individuals. The project comes after numerous property owners in the project’s vicinity donated land and the City of Alachua’s Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) purchased a closed former daycare facility.

Crediting local property owner support, CRA Coordinator Lindsay Rizzo said, “Their generous contributions are at the forefront of what made this project come to reality. Each of these property owners donated a portion of their land to create a parcel large enough to accomplish this impactful project. There has been a need for additional parking in the downtown area to support these business owners for a long time”

Rizzo says the new parking lot will transform the back of buildings along Main Street as well as enhancing curb appeal with new landscaping. It will enhance access to Main Street via a winding sidewalk between two historic structures with subtle overhead lighting. “It will create a charming walking experience and create a cohesive aesthetic to blend with other projects we have been working,” said Rizzo. “The CRA is very proud to break ground on a project that is much more than just a parking lot.”

The project will also improve the infrastructure and functionality in the downtown area with underground utilities running behind the historic buildings. “This will create open space without poles and wires for businesses to have outdoor dining and cafe spaces,” said Rizzo. “An underground water retention basin will relieve some of the water flow issues during significant rain events and it will enhance safety with a well-lit parking area.”

Funding for the project comes from the City of Alachua general fund, the CRA tax increment financing fund, and the United States Department Agriculture Rural Development. Andrews Paving will construct the parking lot, but due to supply chain issues that still exist, there is no set time for its opening.

“It is with 10 years of forethought, planning and great diligence that we were able to break ground on this parking lot and it will add to the access to all the stores on Main Street,” said Rizzo.

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