Newberry City Commission reallocates $2 million for Champions Park, creates Mayor’s Youth Council
BY DAVID LIGHTMAN
NEWBERRY, Fla. – At the June 23 regular meeting, the Newberry City Commission created a Mayor’s Youth Council, changed the future land use and zoning for a 50-acre commercial development to be called Crystal Lake, and agreed to reallocate $2 million in grant money to repair and refurbish Champions Park.
State Attorney Brian Kramer
The meeting began with a presentation by State Attorney Brian Kramer. Kramer said, “I’ve prepared this card that I’m handing to you… I’ve made this card for our elected officials, and I’m going around to every City Commission and County Commission in the Eighth Judicial Circuit, which is what I represent, and giving all of the folks this card, and what it has on it is every way that there is to contact me… You know my main job is to prosecute criminals. It’s what we do, and I hope that we do it well and with a great deal of skill but also compassion.” No Commissioners had any questions for Kramer.
Mayor’s Youth Council
The next presentation was about establishing a Mayor’s Youth Council, an idea originally proposed in July 2024. Newberry High School student Annah McGehee said, “Thank you for the opportunity to address you today regarding the proposed ordinance to establish the Mayor’s Youth Council. This initiative represents a vital step towards fostering a stronger, more inclusive community by empowering our youth to engage directly with local government… Its timeline was pushed back a year to fully flesh out the details, which is why we’re here today. Section one in the proposed ordinance outlines its creation, which establishes the Mayor’s Youth Council in Newberry consisting of five 11th- to 12th-grade members and two 9th- to 10th-grade alternates. Members must reside within Newberry city limits, have a Newberry address, and be enrolled in public, private, or home school, grades 9 through 12.
“Initial members are appointed by the City Commission. Initial appointments include two members for one-year terms and three for two-year terms. Terms expire and are reappointed annually. The Mayor or their designee, along with City staff, will attend meetings and coordinate activities. The Mayor’s Youth Council will elect a Chair to lead meetings and a Vice Chair to act in the Chair’s absence, and elections for the Chair occur at the first regular meetings following the annual appointments… Meeting frequency: must hold at least five regular meetings during the school year, and the office of the City Clerk will maintain public records of all meetings.”
Mayor Tim Marden said, “I think it’s great. I fully support it.” City Attorney Scott Walker read the ordinance his office had prepared. Commissioner Rick Coleman made a motion to adopt the ordinance and create the Youth Council, and Commissioner Tony Mazon seconded the motion. It passed unanimously.
Amendments to the Comprehensive Plan
The first item of business was the second reading of the Wastewater, Solid Waste, Stormwater, and Potable Water and Capital Improvement elements of the City of Newberry Comprehensive Plan. Director of Community Development Stacey Hectus said the first reading took place in April, and after their 45-day review, the State approved the City’s request to amend the Comprehensive Plan. Hectus detailed the changes and said staff recommended adopting the changes.
Commissioner Monty Farnsworth made a motion to adopt the Comprehensive Plan changes, and Commissioner Donald Long seconded the motion. It passed unanimously.
Crystal Lake
The next item was the first reading of a Future Land Use Map Amendment changing 50 acres of land from Agricultural to Commercial use. Principal Planner Jean-Paul Perez said the land is located on the east side of Newberry near the Urban Services Area, and is “the old Sapp property.” Perez said a larger parcel containing the 50 acres was purchased by the developers of Highland Park, and they would like to develop 50 acres commercially and call it Crystal Lake.
Ryan Thompson of NV5 Global Consultants (formerly CHW Professional Consultants) gave a short presentation. Thompson said the application was first submitted in January, and, if approved on first reading, the second reading will take place on July 14. He noted that the property is across from the Tanglewood development. He said the project is consistent with both the Comprehensive Plan and land development regulations.
Farnsworth made a motion to change the land use designation, and Commissioner Mark Clark seconded the motion. It passed unanimously.
The next item was a continuation of the previous item, rezoning the 50-acre Crystal Lake property from Agricultural to Commercial Intensive. Principal Planner Perez continued his previous presentation and explained, “Commercial Intensive allows your standard retail and personal services, plus several other auto-oriented uses.” Lumber and building supplies, car washes, outdoor recreation, wholesale warehouses, and RV sales were other uses Perez listed as allowed.
Thompson asked for his previous presentation to be included in the evidence presented, and he asked that they approve the zoning change request. Perez said staff’s recommendation was to approve the rezoning on first reading.
Clark asked about the live oaks on the property and whether any effort will be made to preserve them. Perez said they would need to have permission to clear those trees, and the City can discuss it with the developers. Clark told Perez to “keep it on our radar.”
Clark made a motion to approve the zoning change, and Long seconded the motion. It passed unanimously.
Appeals process in the Land Development Code
Hectus returned to the podium and introduced the next item, the second reading of an ordinance revising the Appeals section of the Land Development Code. Hectus said it was approved unanimously at the first reading on June 9. She said the only change made since the first reading was one suggested by the Planning and Zoning Board: changing the 400-foot requirement for mailing notification letters to 1,000 feet.
Hectus explained that a contractor can continue working once an appeal is initiated under the current process, and staff wants to change it so that work cannot continue until an appeal is resolved.
Farnsworth made a motion to approve the ordinance, and Coleman seconded the motion. It passed unanimously.
New Agriculture Technology Zoning District
Hectus introduced the next item, the second reading of an ordinance creating an Agriculture Technology (AT) Zoning District. The first reading was at the June 9 meeting, and it passed unanimously. She said it was aimed at the AgTech Innovation Park. See our coverage of the first reading for more details about approved uses and prohibited uses.
Hectus said that once adopted, the new zoning district classification can be forwarded to the State to have Newberry’s zoning classifications updated. Mazon made a motion to approve the ordinance, and Long seconded the motion. It passed unanimously.
Reallocating $2 million from Easton Sports Complex to Champions Park
City Manager Jordan Marlowe spoke at the podium for his first time as City Manager. He said the City had allocated $6 million in grant money to build a gym at the Easton Sports Complex, but since they were only going to get two extra courts with the money, he was asking to reallocate $2 million “to bring Champions Park up to speed.” Marlowe suggesting pausing any Easton projects until more public input can be heard and decisions made.
Responding to Coleman, Marlowe said there are liability and safety issues at Champions Park that need to be fixed, such as tripping hazards and cracked sidewalks. He added that staff would like to replace the nets on all 16 baseball and softball fields, upgrade the utilities, and refurbish the restrooms. Marlowe said he will seek any matching-grant funding that may be available from the County or elsewhere.
Long suggested making Champions Park “a state-of-the-art park for Newberry.” Marlowe said the park is a huge success for the County and brings lots of tourist money into the area.
Mazon made a motion to reallocate the $2 million, and Long seconded the motion. It passed unanimously.
Offer letter for new City Clerk
The last item was negotiating an offer in the form of a letter for Randa Paul to assume the position of City Clerk. Marlowe explained, “There were some issues with putting the Clerk under a contract, so in lieu of a contract, we decided we could put everything that we wanted to establish for the record into the offer letter.” Marlowe said he thought everyone had agreed on a starting salary of $77,000, with three years for Paul to obtain City Clerk certifications, and annual increases of 2.5%, 2.5%, and 3.0% during the first three years, as long as her certifications are on track for completion.
Clark made a motion to issue the offer letter, and Long seconded the motion. Responding to Coleman, Marlowe said the Clerk would still be eligible for COLA (cost of living adjustment) raises. The motion passed unanimously.
Site plan for Hedges Eye Care
A Board of Adjustment meeting was held following the Commission meeting. The only item was the approval of a site development plan for Hedges Eye Care, owned by Dr. Stephen Hedges. The 2,275-square-foot building is to be located on 0.16 acres at 22 SW 258th Street.
After a presentation, Mazon made a motion to approve the site plan and Coleman seconded the motion. It passed unanimously.