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Commission approves Highland Park Community Development District on first reading, 4-1
Summary
On Feb. 10 the Newberry commission approved on first reading an ordinance to establish the Highland Park Community Development District, setting a second reading for Feb. 24; Commissioner Martin voted no citing concerns about expanding government.
The City Commission of Newberry voted 4-1 on Feb. 10 to approve on first reading an ordinance establishing the Highland Park Community Development District (CDD) under Chapter 190 of the Florida Statutes. Commissioner Martin cast the lone dissent.
Why it matters: A CDD creates a separate special-purpose unit of local government that can issue bonds, levy assessments and manage infrastructure for the district. Developers commonly use CDDs to finance roads, stormwater and amenities that serve new residential subdivisions; property owners within the CDD pay district assessments.
Staff presentation: John Paul Perez of the Community Development Department told the commission Highland Park covers about 104 acres, including commercial and residential phases. "A community development district is a, public private financing mechanism," Perez said. The developer, Newberry Plaza, LLC (doing business as Highland Park), proposed about 350 single-family homes in the residential component and allocated roughly $25.2 million as a preliminary CDD budget; staff emphasized figures were estimates and subject to financing.
Public debate and vote: Commissioners questioned amenities, governance and the growth of special-purpose districts. Commissioner Martin said he supports what CDDs can deliver but opposed them on principle because they increase layers of government. Commissioner Farnsworth moved to approve on first reading; Commissioner Maison seconded. The ordinance passed 4-1 with Martin dissenting. If approved on second reading, the ordinance would establish initial supervisors and the district boundary; second reading is scheduled for Feb. 24.
Ending: Staff will notify the property appraiser and supervisor of elections as required and continue statutory compliance review. The commission placed conditions and clarified that the city is not obligated to assume CDD debt in the event of a default.
