Board recommends transmission of Countryway 2 large-scale comprehensive plan amendment to state for review

The City of Newberry Planning & Zoning Board on June 2 recommended the City Commission transmit a large-scale comprehensive plan amendment (Ordinance 2025-09, CPA24-12) that would change roughly 59.43 acres from Mixed Use to Residential Low Density. The recommendation allows the city to send the application to the Florida Department of Commerce for the required 45-day expedited intergovernmental review.

Community Development Director Stacy Hector and consultant Margo Mower (MB5) presented the proposal for the Countryway 2 planned residential development. The applicant is NV5 Global Inc.; the owners are listed as Charlie L. Futch and Juanita H. Futch. Staff and the applicant said the property lies inside the city’s urban service area and is intended to connect to existing Countryway Town Center infrastructure. The application as filed would change the future land use designation from Mixed Use to Residential Low Density at a gross density allowance of 4 dwelling units per acre; the companion rezoning, the applicant said, would further limit gross density to 3.14 dwelling units per acre and cap buildout at 500 dwelling units.

Mower told the board the plan anticipates development in phases (southeast quadrant first) and that initial access would be directed through Countryway Town Center; she and staff said additional phases would bring other connections later in the buildout. Board members asked questions about access on Southwest Fifteenth Avenue and how county road improvements or state roadway changes would be coordinated. Staff said roadway and other public-facility impacts will be evaluated during concurrency review at the site-plan stage and noted prior county conversations about Fifteenth Avenue capacity.

Staff reported the planning-level impact analysis submitted with the amendment shows the development would not exceed the city’s established levels of service for public facilities; staff recommended the board forward the transmittal. The Planning & Zoning Board voted to recommend that the City Commission transmit the amendment to the Florida Department of Commerce; the recommendation was unanimous.

Because this is a large-scale amendment (over 50 acres) state review is required; if transmitted by the City Commission the state will have about 45 days to provide comments prior to final local adoption. The first reading before City Commission is scheduled for June 9, per staff.