Board approves land-use change and PUD for 50-unit duplex development after split vote

The Marion County Board of County Commissioners approved a small-scale land-use change and companion rezoning to a planned unit development on Sept. 5 to allow a proposed 50-unit duplex subdivision on approximately 12.75 acres near Northwest 70th Terrace (items referenced together on the agenda).

Staff presentations (Kenneth Fodham and others from Growth Services) described the request as a change of two parcels from low residential (one dwelling unit per acre) to medium residential (up to four units per acre) and rezoning to a PUD. The applicant proposed 50 attached single-family units (ranch-style duplexes) with open space, a park area, and a 20-foot vegetated perimeter buffer in many locations. Growth Services said the project lies inside the urban growth boundary, has City of Ocala water and sewer will-serve letters, and that traffic generation (about 331 trips per day) would be negligible at the State Road 40 level of service.

Neighbors raised concerns during public comment about noise, horse-farm impacts, stormwater, road maintenance, and the intensity of medium-density residential adjacent to low-density farmland. Applicants and their consultants, including Fred Roberts and Richard (Rick) Bush of Kimley-Horn, said the larger combined site would allow stronger buffers, additional amenities, and a higher-quality for-sale product than a smaller development on only the front five acres.

Commissioner Bryant moved to deny the land-use amendments; that motion failed. Commissioner MacLean then moved to approve the land-use change and the PUD zoning; Commissioner Stone seconded. The land-use change and rezoning were approved 3-2, with Commissioners Bryant and Zalick dissenting. A subsequent motion to adopt the ordinance was recorded later in the meeting and was announced as passing.

Outcome: Small-scale land-use amendment and PUD rezoning approved by 3-2 vote; ordinance adoption recorded during the meeting.