Another zoning designation is on the books for the City of Newberry after last night’s meeting of the City Council. The creation of the Campus Transition Overlay district passed with six “yeas” and one “nay” vote.

The one vote against came from Councilman David DuBose who attempted to amend the proposed ordinance, increasing buffer distances between second and three-story buildings in the CTO and any residential property neighbors.

DuBose proposed a 50-foot buffer between second story buildings and residential property lines and 75-foot buffers by three-story structures in the CTO. DuBose’s proposed amendment did not receive a second to be voted on from his fellow councilmen and died.

The setbacks specified in the CTO are 25-feet—similar to setbacks in other city zoning.

“It is for the future of the college (the CTO district), but we’ve got to protect the citizens,” Mayor Ed Kyzer commented after the vote.

The vote was unanimous in creating the zoning map itself however, with seven in favor of setting the boundaries of the district. At council’s August meeting several properties were carved out of the proposed CTO district, including the former Speers Street Elementary School.

Property that falls inside the CTO can be used for office space, classroom space and as parking areas. The classrooms and offices could only have planned uses during business hours.