Newberry commission adopts multiple land‑use and zoning ordinances, approves roundabout interlocal; real‑property procedure passes 2–1

The Newberry City Commission on May 26 adopted a series of ordinances affecting land use, zoning and city procedures and authorized a county‑led roundabout project, while adopting a new city policy to govern acquisition and disposal of real property on a 2–1 vote.

Ordinances and formal actions at a glance

- Ordinance 2026‑09 (CPA 24‑04): Approved on second reading to amend the comprehensive plan’s future land‑use map for approximately 160 acres (tax parcel 02573‑000‑000) from agriculture to low‑density residential (4 units per acre). Applicant representative Craig Brazier of MV5 said the companion rezoning will cap the development at 500 units; the commission approved the ordinance unanimously.

- Ordinance 2026‑07 (CPA 26‑09): Approved on second reading to change a city parcel (identified as Freddie Womack Park, parcel 01935‑000‑000) from recreation to public facilities; staff reported the state review returned no comments and the commission approved the ordinance unanimously.

- Ordinances 2026‑08 / LDR26‑11 and 2026‑04 (companion rezoning items): The commission entered quasi‑judicial procedure, swore in participants and approved companion rezoning requests for city‑owned and annexed parcels after staff said planning and zoning had recommended approval; both passed by unanimous votes.

- Ordinance 2026‑03 (CPA 26‑06): Second reading to change future land use for four annexation parcels from county rural/agriculture to city agriculture; state review produced no comments and the commission adopted the ordinance unanimously.

- Ordinance 26‑23 (text amendment): The commission adopted a new codified real property policy establishing procedures for acquisition and disposition of city property and setting a typical threshold for city manager spending authority up to $100,000 (and commission approval above that); commissioners debated the threshold and whether it should be lower or have a sunset clause. The motion passed, 2–1.

- Interlocal agreement: The commission authorized execution of an interlocal agreement with Alachua County to construct a roundabout at Newberry Lane and SR 235 (engineer and construction led by county). City manager Marla said the budget estimate was roughly $1,500,000, with $200,000 currently budgeted; the county will lead engineering and construction and deeds will be executed to allocate right‑of‑way ownership. The motion passed unanimously.

Why it matters: The land‑use and rezoning approvals clear regulatory steps for development and annexation projects, including a sizable 160‑acre future‑land‑use change that staff and the applicant say will be further restricted by companion rezoning conditions. The real‑property policy standardizes how the city will handle buying and selling property, shifting some procedural authority to the city manager while preserving commission oversight above established thresholds.

Quotes and notable details

"We found it consistent with the comprehensive plan and the land development code," city planner Stacy Hector said when reading the second reading of a land‑use ordinance. Applicant representative Craig Brazier explained the companion rezoning would reduce the practical unit count below the theoretical maximum: "This is 4 units an acre per this land use, but ... the companion rezoning ... will further restrict that number of units to 500."

On the property policy, Marla said the measure is "a procedural policy, not a budgetary policy," and explained the city manager’s spending authority is designed to mirror existing purchasing thresholds; commissioners asked staff to clarify the $100,000 threshold language before final publication.

What’s next: Staff will prepare draft codified text and follow up on implementation details (including revisions to the real‑property ordinance language flagged as a scrivener’s error). Projects cleared by these votes will follow through with site‑specific rezoning and engineering steps, and the county‑led roundabout will proceed with right‑of‑way work and a phased budget plan.