Newberry City Commission makes big Christmas plans, annexes 190 acres, moves forward with solar farm

BY DAVID LIGHTMAN
NEWBERRY, Fla. – During their November 27 regular meeting, the Newberry City Commission discussed plans to become the Christmas Capital of Alachua County, finalized the FY2023 City budget, annexed approximately 190 acres into the city limits, and heard a presentation about a proposed solar farm.
2023 Christmas plans
After presenting a Building Strong Communities award, Mayor Jordan Marlowe announced, “That’s going to take us to the moment we’ve all been waiting for on our way to Newberry becoming the Christmas Capital of Alachua County: the announcement of the 2023 Christmas plans.”
Parks and Recreation Director Travis Parker gave a presentation that included a few short videos. He suggested residents scan the QR Code on the following slide to be taken to the Christmas Capital website, which has a complete list of Christmas events. A partial list includes the Light Up Newberry Christmas Light Contest, a chance for residents to compete for the best light display with voting on the Christmas Prism app; the Tree Lighting Ceremony on December 2 at 6 p.m.; a Gingerbread House Contest for local bakers; and a showing of Elf during Movie in the Park night on December 9 at Barry Park at 5 p.m..

Marlowe asked about the possibility of getting some reindeer for the festivities, but Parker said they are quite expensive and operate on a bid process. Marlowe said the City should go into the reindeer business as breeders, and he hinted at a “backup plan” during the tree lighting ceremony, if the City is unable to acquire reindeer for this Christmas season.
Parker showed videos of previous years’ events, all viewable on the website. Marlowe emphasized the importance of the “one stop” website and the timing of the Gingerbread House Contest, which will allow for exhibition and voting during the parade.
Finalizing the FY2023 budget
Amanda Hagan, Assistant Director of Finance and Administration, introduced Resolution 2023-63, amending the final budget for Fiscal Year 2023. She said the City “came in under budget,” and a final report will be presented later. Hagan said the recommended action would be to increase revenues and decrease expenses, in accordance with the way the actual numbers worked out at the end of the fiscal year.
Commissioner Rick Coleman made a motion to pass the resolution, and Commissioner Tim Marden seconded the motion. Marlowe said, “My only comment is, ‘Great job coming in under budget.’ Well done. We always like to hear that.” No members of the public spoke, and the motion passed unanimously.
190-acre annexation incorporates former enclave
Newberry Principal Planner Jean-Paul Perez introduced the first reading of Annexation 37, two requests for voluntary annexation of four parcels totaling approximately 190 acres; he noted this is the first request for annexation since 2022. Perez said, “Herbert Marlowe, Jr. and Whitehurst Cattle Co. are looking to join the Newberry family. They are surrounded by the City of Newberry, so they are an enclave. (We like the idea of) helping to close that… and become a more contiguous city.” He explained that while the annexations were presented as one item, they comprised two ordinances and a total of four parcels.
Perez said Whitehurst Cattle Co. wishes to annex one parcel of 161 acres just north of Watermelon Pond into the southern part of the city. Herb Marlowe, Perez said, has three parcels grouped together, totaling about 29 acres, located right off CR 337, just south of 30th Avenue, where the road curves into 282nd Street.
A consultant speaking on behalf of the Whitehurst family said they hope to have the second reading in December and finalize the annexation with the state sometime in April of 2024, and he explained that the family wants to keep a rural/agricultural zoning and are not looking to develop the land.
No members of the public wished to speak. Marden confirmed with Perez that Alachua County has no objections to the proposed annexations.
City Attorney Scott Walker pointed out that two votes must be taken for the two parts of the annexation. Commissioner Tony Mazon made a motion to pass Ordinance 2023-34, annexing the Whitehurst property. Commissioner Mark Clark seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.
Commissioner Monty Farnsworth made a motion to pass Ordinance 2023-35, annexing the three Herb Marlowe properties. Mazon seconded the motion, and it also passed unanimously.
Proposed solar farm
Scott Scoville, a Project Director with Florida Renewable Partners, gave a presentation on a proposed 750-acre solar farm. He explained that his company is a subsidiary of NextEra Energy, the world’s largest provider of wind and solar energy, and, together with Florida Power and Light, they cover the state’s renewable energy needs.
Scoville said, “We are committed to doing the right thing for the community, stakeholders, and the environment. Every project is unique.”
Marlowe asked, “When would you love to break ground out there?” Scoville answered, “We purchased the site back in March… The next steps for us are spending the next year doing all the environmental reviews, stormwater reviews, geotech slow borings… That will take a year. The earliest we could have an application before the Commission would be about a year or two from now.” Scoville explained that since the solar farm will need to interconnect with Duke Energy systems, the project will take four to five years to actually come online. Marlowe thanked him for being so willing to listen to the concerns of the public at multiple hearings.
Scoville said NextEra Energy has brought 69 solar systems online in Florida, and he has personally overseen 13 of those. He gave a brief explanation of how solar energy works, consisting of solar panels and inverter boxes, shown on the slide below. He said the posts are set in the ground with no concrete, allowing for easy removal in the future.

Scoville said, “Through proper buffering, we can shield the project from public view.” He showed the slide below to give an idea of the visual impact solar systems can have.

Scoville said the panels and inverters do make noise, but systems are designed so that sound is not audible from the property line. Marlowe asked for a comparable sound, to give an idea of the volume level, and Scoville said it is comparable to standing close to a low-level pump running.
Clark said he recently visited an existing NextEra Energy solar installation, and he was impressed with the visual buffers and the way it was maintained. He could, however, hear the noise, although it was muffled whenever a car drove past. He suggested that anyone interested should visit an existing installation. Mazon said he visited a site in Kissimmee, and he thought it was very quiet.
Scoville discussed the economic benefits of the solar project, including adding to the local tax base and creating approximately 200 jobs for nine to twelve months, shown on the slide below.

Marlowe said Florida is 70% dependent on three natural gas lines for most of its energy, and “We’ve gotta do better at diversifying. We cannot be that handicapped to such a limited supply… We’ve got to diversify our energy production.”
Marlowe said he favors a “common-sense” approach to visual buffering, focusing on areas next to homes more than cow fields and other land with no inhabitants.
During public comment, Jeff F. said that not everyone is in agreement with the project. He mentioned health and property value concerns, and he presented the Commission with copies of two peer-reviewed studies regarding electromagnetic fields from solar farms. Lisa Darling said her family members can hear a nearby solar farm in a different city.
Travis Edmond said he has a defibrillator and has to always be aware of his surroundings. He suggested installing the vegetative buffer as one of the initial steps of the project.
Michael Wyrick and Charlie Jackson expressed concerns about the visual impact on the value of Newberry for “country living.”
Marlowe reiterated that he favors wide vegetative buffers. Scoville returned to the podium and repeated that no concrete will be used in the project, addressing a concern from Joshua Wyrick. In closing, Marlowe said that like all construction, the solar farm will be built according to State and Federal regulations.
Letter to School Board regarding zoning issues
As part of a discussion about school boundaries, Marlowe pointed out that Newberry’s overcrowded schools contain 40% to 60% non-Newberry residents from as far away as Gainesville. Marden made a motion, seconded by Mazon, to send a letter asking the Alachua County School Board to stop overcrowding Newberry schools with non-residents. The motion passed unanimously.
General public comment
During the final General Public Comment period, a woman whose name could not be heard said, “I don’t know if you guys know, but the Medieval Festival has been relocated to an absolutely horrible place, Depot Park. I think Newberry would be a great home for that. I don’t know if you guys can do anything about it.”
Marlowe interjected, “Already on it. Started three weeks ago. It’s a no-go for this year. Maybe next. We can fix it.”
Marlowe showed off a “Christmas Capital” t-shirt to close the meeting.
another sideshow to divert the reason for the season is the birth of Jesus Christ
To some yes, and Merry Christmas to them. However, Christmas was conveniently timed with the winter solstice – and Easter with the spring equinox – an ancient cause for a celebration of life and renewal, which predated it. The holiday season(s) does not belong to any one religion.
While Christmas is an important religious holiday for many, it’s also Santa Claus, Christmas trees, Rudolph, Frosty the Snowman, the Grinch (like you), tons of films from Home Alone to Scrooged, eggnog, and many other Christmas traditions. Maybe part of your problem is you don’t understand American traditions.
I totally support the idea of Newberry starting a reindeer farm. Then when Alachua County builds that meat plant in Newberry they can sell fresh homegrown reindeer burgers at their festival. Chair Prizzia will be ecstatic at the local grown food chain supporting small scale reindeer ranchers and her conflict of interest Working Foods can get a few million tax dollars to buy a reindeer food sleigh.
Never fails that everyone that posts on this site are miserable old people that hate everything.