Ocala council annexes 39.33-acre Marion County enclave, approves planned development for Timberland site

At a September meeting, the Ocala City Council voted to annex two parcels totaling 39.33 acres at 2275 SW 50th Avenue and to reclassify and rezone the land to allow a planned development combining single-family and multifamily housing.

City planning official Indira Madre Varon told council the northern parcel contains the Timberland Apartments (42 units, built 1983) and the southern parcel is undeveloped. The developer proposes a PD that would include courtyard and cottage single-family homes, townhomes and multifamily buildings. Staff reported the PD establishes a density of 11.67 dwelling units per acre and a total of 459 dwelling units including the existing 42 Timberland units; gross open space was described as 37.9% (with an optional additional 1.8-acre stormwater area that could raise the open-space percentage).

The PD includes maximum building heights of 50 feet (multifamily) and 35 feet (single-family), a 10-foot-wide landscape buffer with a 6-foot vinyl fence along three property boundaries, a reserved 40-foot right-of-way for a future east–west connection and amenities such as a 3,600-square-foot clubhouse with pool and walking paths. Staff noted proposed deviations from city standards including 20-foot alley widths (in lieu of a 30-foot alley right-of-way) and a proposed reduction in parking to one space per unit for up to 150 single-family attached units (instead of 1.5 spaces per unit under current code). Planning staff and the Planning & Zoning Commission recommended approval (P&Z vote 4–0); staff said no level-of-service issues were identified for public facilities.

Developer Daniel Trungcoso of Coastal Capital said the project followed a multi‑year process. He described investments already made on site after acquiring the property in 2020, telling council his firm spent $1,300,000 to renovate apartment buildings, correct code violations and restore the Timberland complex into occupied units. Trungcoso said the broader PD plan was “financially sound” and designed with neighborhood principles in mind.

Council discussion was supportive. Councilman Barry Mansfield noted the property’s history and said he welcomed the site’s reuse for housing. City staff emphasized the annexation reduces an existing Marion County enclave and will bring the property into compliance with the city’s comprehensive plan and land‑development rules.

Council approved the four related items on second reading: the annexation ordinance, a future land‑use map amendment to medium intensity special district, the zoning change to PD (planned development), and the related development resolution. Each motion passed on roll call with council voting in favor; adoption by sections on second reading was waived where noted in the motions.

The project now moves to implementation steps described in the PD standards, including detailed site plan review and any required easements or interlocal agreements for right‑of‑way connections. Staff and the applicant said utilities are available at the location and no immediate level‑of‑service shortfalls were identified.