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Newberry commissioners reclassify nine city‑owned parcels as public facilities
Summary
On Feb. 23 the City of Newberry approved two city‑initiated measures to change the future land‑use and zoning designations of nine city‑owned parcels to Public Facilities, a move staff said will standardize park classification and ease permitting for park improvements.
The City of Newberry commission voted unanimously Feb. 23 to advance two city‑initiated ordinances that change the future land‑use and zoning designations for nine city‑owned parcels to Public Facilities.
City Attorney read ordinance 20 26‑19 — a comprehensive plan amendment to the future land‑use map — by title, and staff presented its companion rezoning (ordinance 20 26‑20) to amend the official zoning atlas. Community development director Stacy Hectes told commissioners the change is intended to standardize how city‑owned parks and other municipal parcels are designated so the city can lawfully expand and manage those sites without conflicting designations in the code.
"That district was created for properties that were going to be owned by the city to have the appropriate designation for public facilities," Hectes said, noting the city has divided its owned parcels into three rounds of amendments and will bring larger parks forward in subsequent meetings. She listed smaller parks under consideration including Martin Luther King Park, Lois Fort, Berry Park and Jimmy Durden Park and said the Public Facilities designation accommodates government uses and public‑private partnerships.
Commissioners discussed safeguards to ensure parks remain public in practice. A resident asked for specific language to prevent parks from being repurposed for other municipal uses; commissioners and staff replied that the current plan is to expand—not eliminate—park space and that final language could reflect those protections. The commission approved the first reading of the future land‑use amendment and separately approved the companion rezoning in a quasi‑judicial hearing; both votes were unanimous.
The rezoning hearing included the required disclosures, swearing in of participants and a staff presentation; Hectes said the planning and zoning board recommended approval and that the second reading for final adoption is scheduled for March 9 in the commission chambers.
What happens next: staff will prepare final ordinance language for second reading, including any technical edits and directions to the city manager for codification and implementation.
Authorities referenced: ordinance 20 26‑19 (future land‑use map amendment) and ordinance 20 26‑20 (official zoning atlas amendment).
