Newberry City Commission Approves Exciting Land Use Changes and Future Growth Plans

Exciting Changes Coming to Newberry!

Hey there, Newberry residents! On September 9, 2024, some exhilarating developments transpired at the City of Newberry Commission meeting, which might just impact how you see our lovely city. Our commissioners came together to adopt various land use and property zoning requests, along with a final plat request that could set the stage for future growth and development.

Small Scale Future Land Use Map Amendments

The evening kicked off with three Small Scale Future Land Use Map Amendments. Now, what’s that, you might wonder? Well, it involves properties that are 50 acres or fewer. Since these are considered “small-scale” amendments, they make it easier for property owners to change future land use classifications. All three of the properties were recently annexed into our wonderful city, and guess what? They were all unanimously approved by the Commission! These changes will be reviewed again on the second reading slated for September 23, 2024.

New Future Land Use Classifications

Let’s dive a little deeper into what these amendments entail. One of the properties is owned by Daniel and Meghan Shore, located at 17406 S.W. 46th Avenue in Archer. They proposed changing the future land use classification on their 9.85 acres from Alachua County Rural/Agriculture (which allows less than or equal to one dwelling unit per five acres) to City of Newberry Agriculture. Sounds promising, right?

Over at 1318 S.W. 226th Street in Newberry, Jamie Nelson’s 4.76 acres will also undergo a similar makeover, transitioning from County Rural/Agriculture to City of Newberry Agriculture (A). It’s really exciting to see more agricultural classifications within our city, isn’t it?

And that’s not all! The Phillips family, owners of 25909 West Newberry Road, received approval to change the future land use classification on their 0.24 acres from Residential Low Density to Commercial. This opens the door for potential new businesses to pop up in our community!

Rezoning Actions and Hearings

Throughout the meeting, four rezoning requests were also discussed after Quasi-Judicial Public Hearings, and similarly, they were all approved during the first reading. These rezoning actions will be presented once more on September 23, 2024. Can you feel the anticipation in the air?

Among these requests, Jamie Nelson proposed an amendment to the Official Zoning Atlas, which involves changing the zoning from Alachua County Agricultural (A) to Newberry Agricultural (A) on his property located at 1318 S.W. 226th Street. The commission accepted this with open arms.

The Phillips Family’s Zoning Changes

And let’s not forget about the Phillips family again! They also sought to change the zoning designation for their 0.24 acres on West Newberry Road from Residential, Single Family (RSF-2) to Commercial, Central Business District (C-CBD). The growth potential here is quite exciting!

A New Phase in Avalon Woods

Among other developments, there was also talk about the Phase 4A of the Avalon Woods Mixed-Use Development, stretching across 16.46 acres and comprising a whopping 72 lots. It’s a great way to enhance our local housing and business opportunities.

Final Thoughts

All in all, it was quite the evening filled with promising developments designed to improve the City of Newberry. There’s definitely a feeling of growth and excitement for what’s to come. As details continue to unfold, remember to stay engaged with our community and share your thoughts. Here’s to new beginnings and exciting opportunities in our charming town!