Newberry Scraps Board of Adjustment

NEWBERRY – The Newberry City Commission voted April 13, 2026, to eliminate the city’s Board of Adjustment, consolidating its duties under the commission in a move officials said will streamline the approval process and reduce redundant hearings.

Because commission members also served as the Board of Adjustment, the city had been conducting separate hearings on the same matters. Commissioners said eliminating the board removes duplication and allows land-use and related decisions to be handled more efficiently. The Board of Adjustment served as the city’s quasi-judicial body, handling variance requests, appeals of staff decisions and interpretations of land-use regulations, with authority to approve or deny exceptions to the city’s development code.

In other city business, commissioners unanimously adopted Resolution 2026-12 establishing a Citizen Advisory Task Force for the city’s Community Development Block Grant program. The panel will provide input on community needs, program priorities and funding recommendations tied to the federal grant.

Appointed to three-year terms running from April 13, 2026, to April 12, 2029, were Daniel Thomas, Sheron Cheesborough, Daniel Eby, Sierra Nicole Nyberg and Gail Watson.

The commission also approved an interlocal agreement with Alachua County to participate in the county’s Tree Planting Program. The initiative provides municipalities with nursery-grown trees at no cost for planting on public property, including rights-of-way, parks and stormwater facilities, with cities responsible for long-term maintenance.

County Arborist Lacy Holtzworth told commissioners the program focuses on high-value species such as live oak, magnolia, bald cypress and longleaf pine, noting that tree canopies can improve air quality, reduce heat and glare, and contribute to safer, more walkable communities.

Commissioners also completed a pair of land-use actions tied to Annexation No. 40. In a legislative hearing, the commission unanimously approved Ordinance No. 2026-1 on second reading, changing the future land use designation of seven parcels from Alachua County Rural/Agriculture to City of Newberry Agriculture. Officials said the changes were “like-for-like,” meaning no increase in development density or intensity is permitted.

In a separate quasi-judicial hearing, commissioners unanimously approved Ordinance No. 2026-02, rezoning the same parcels from county agricultural zoning to the city’s agricultural designation. The properties, identified by multiple tax parcel numbers, are now incorporated into the city’s regulatory framework without altering their allowable uses.

City officials also recognized the electric utility for its safety performance during the meeting. Director of Public Works and Utilities Rance Green presented the city’s 2025 Safety Award from the Florida Municipal Electric Association to Electric Department Supervisor Colton Langford. Newberry was among 17 public power utilities statewide to receive the recognition.

To accommodate the Memorial Day holiday, the commission approved shifting its May 25 meeting to May 26.

The meeting, held on the eve of the municipal election, also included remarks from candidates seeking the Group 3 commission seat. Incumbent Monty Farnsworth and challengers Naim Erched and J.D. Mercado were each given time to outline their platforms for voters ahead of Election Day.

City officials said newly elected commissioners will be sworn in at 6 p.m. April 27, followed by a regular commission meeting at 7 p.m.

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