Newberry City Commission approves two CDDs and special exception for Publix liquor store

BY DAVID LIGHTMAN

NEWBERRY, Fla. – At a November 12 Special Meeting, the Newberry City Commission heard a presentation on efforts to raise money for the Veterans Memorial, approved Community Development Districts (CDDs) for The Ranch and Westone planned developments on second readings, and granted a special exception for a liquor store at the nearly-complete Newberry Publix.

Update on fundraising for the Newberry Veterans Memorial

Commissioner Mark Clark said some special guests would be giving an update on fundraising efforts for the planned Newberry Veterans Memorial; he thanked Oak View Middle School Band Director Lori Pirzer and the band students at Oak View, who raised money by selling t-shirts honoring veterans. Clark held up an enlarged version of their $700 check, and the audience applauded. 

Former Florida House member Debbie Boyd said, “We just want to say thank you so much for your time and energy and your thoughtfulness.” Pirzer introduced a few representatives from the 150-member band program. Mayor Jordan Marlowe said, “It always is kind of special when students take the lead, and they hear about something, and they recognize a need, and they work with their teachers.” Clark presented the Oak View Middle School Band with a Certificate of Appreciation from the City, and the students posed for photos with the check.

Returning to the podium, Boyd showed a slide depicting the planned Veterans Memorial and listing the major sponsors of the project who have contributed $1,000 or more.  (See slide below.)

Boyd said they have sold 243 custom-engraved bricks for a net profit of $6,380, and they have enough space at the park for 1,000 bricks. The deadline to order a custom-engraved brick has been extended to December 16, Boyd said, and everyone is encouraged to help raise funds for the Memorial and honor a veteran at the same time.

Commissioner Clark said Denny George, the General Manager of Central Florida Electric, has completed his fourteenth American flag made from a firehose, each a unique design, and it will be auctioned off or sold to raise more funds for the Veterans Memorial. Clark said this year’s flag is over six feet long and over three feet wide and mounted on wood. Mayor Jordan Marlowe said in jest, “If anybody in the audience just wants to go ahead and bid $5,000, we can probably close this auction out.” (See slide below.)

CDDs for The Ranch and Westone planned developments

After approving minor zoning changes to allow for a Shirt Shack retail store and a combination optometrist-coffee shop retail establishment, Commissioners heard second readings of ordinances establishing CDDs for The Ranch (or NC Ranch) and Westone planned developments. 

Principal Planner Jean-Paul Perez began by asking if any Commissioners had questions about CDDs. Commissioner Rick Coleman asked whether ILAs, or interlocal agreements, would be needed. Perez said ILAs are appropriate under unique conditions and cited Reedy Creek as an example. Perez said staff had concluded that ILAs should not be necessary for either The Ranch or Westone developments as there are no unique conditions on those properties and the ILA requirements can easily be removed from the CDDs. Coleman said, “My opinion – we need to strike [the ILAs].” 

Commissioner Clark said, “I’m in agreement to take this off, do the development agreement, let this thing go forward.” Clark said an ILA could always be considered later if requested by the developer.

Perez said staff recommended approving the $47 million, 255-acre CDD for The Ranch, owned by developer Tripp Norfleet. As discussed in greater detail in our article covering the first reading on October 28, this CDD will cover only the first two of eight planned phases.

Clark made a motion to approve the CDD for The Ranch with the condition of striking the requirement for an ILA. Coleman seconded the motion. It passed 4-0 on second reading, with Commissioner Tim Marden absent throughout the meeting.

Perez said staff also recommended approving the $32.6 million, 237-acre CDD for the Westone community. He noted that the second reading was previously continued from the October 28 meeting at the request of the applicant. See our stories covering the October 14 and October 28 meetings for more details about the Westone development.

Clark made a motion to approve the CDD for Westone with the condition of striking the ILA requirement. Coleman seconded the motion. It passed 4-0 on second reading.

Publix liquor store special exception

After a brief intermission, Commissioners returned to conduct a Board of Adjustment meeting. Mayor Marlowe introduced a quasi-judicial item, a special exception to permit a “package store for sale of alcoholic beverages” on property at 24100 Newberry Road, adjacent to the new Publix.

Perez said staff recommended approval of the special exception, as the plan meets all the development criteria established by the Commission, such as lighting and parking. 

A representative of Publix said she could waive her presentation since it would agree with everything Perez had laid out, and the time was already after 9 p.m. 

No members of the public wished to speak. Marlowe said, “I can’t wait for BOGO bottles.”

Commissioner Tony Mazon made a motion to grant the special exception. Coleman seconded the motion. It passed 4-0.