Commission approves land-use change and rezoning to allow eight townhomes behind downtown post office
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Summary
The City of Newberry approved a small-scale future land-use amendment and companion rezoning for a 0.72-acre parcel behind the post office to allow attached single-family townhomes; staff and the applicant said the site’s size and stormwater constraints likely limit the project to about eight units.
The City of Newberry on Jan. 12 approved a small-scale future land-use amendment (ordinance 2025-84) and a companion rezoning (ordinance 2025-85) to enable housing development on a vacant 0.72-acre parcel at the southeast corner of NW 3rd Ave and NW 251st Street, behind the post office.
Jean Paul Perez, community development director, told the commission the change would move the property from residential low density (4 dwelling units per acre) to residential high density (20 dwelling units per acre) in the comprehensive plan and that the planning-and-zoning board had recommended adoption. Tara Howell, a senior planner with JB Pro representing the applicant and property owner PBR Financials Inc., said the owner’s current plan is for attached single-family townhomes and that, because of lot area and stormwater requirements, the site is only feasible for about eight units rather than the maximum density permitted by the land-use designation.
Commission debate focused on compatibility with existing single-family development, the danger of ‘spot zoning,’ and how sewer and stormwater constraints limit practical unit counts. Commissioner Farnsworth said he opposed spot zoning in predominantly single-family areas; other commissioners said similar infill projects had been approved elsewhere and could fit the city’s strategic infill goals. Public comment included Joy Glanzer, who urged approval, saying Newberry needs more of this housing type and that attached units could be more affordable.
Commissioner Maison moved and Commissioner Clark seconded approval of the future land-use amendment on first reading; the motion passed 3–1 with one commissioner absent. The commission then followed quasi-judicial procedure for the rezoning and approved the rezoning ordinance by a recorded result noted as 4–1. The applicant must still obtain required school capacity letters from Alachua County Schools and submit site plans and development permits; a second reading for the land-use ordinance and rezoning will be scheduled Jan. 26, 7 p.m.
Howell and staff emphasized the distinction between the map change being considered now and any final site plan, telling commissioners that the property’s size, parking needs and stormwater requirements will limit ultimate density. Perez noted that gross acreage (0.94 acres) influences the density calculation and that utilities would need to be extended to serve the site.
Next steps for the project include the second-reading hearing on Jan. 26 and subsequent site-plan review, where the applicant will be required to demonstrate compliance with compatibility, parking and stormwater standards.
