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Ocala historic board approves rear‑yard outdoor kitchen, tables garage request
Summary
The Ocala Historic Preservation Advisory Board approved a certificate of appropriateness for a pre‑engineered outdoor kitchen at 814 Southeast Fourth Street after staff found it met local criteria and no objections were filed; a separate garage application was tabled until Sept. 4, 2025.
The Ocala Historic Preservation Advisory Board approved a certificate of appropriateness allowing a pre‑engineered outdoor kitchen to be added to the rear yard of a home at 814 Southeast Fourth Street and tabled a separate garage application (Case No. 256COA25‑0022) until Sept. 4, 2025.
Staff told the board the applicant seeks an addition measuring within the footprint shown on the site plan and is requesting a 15% reduction to the required side‑yard setback, which qualifies for an administrative variance rather than review by the Board of Adjustment. Staff noted the proposed kitchen would sit about 7 feet from the property line; the property’s yard setback requirement was cited as 8 feet while typical residential yards are required to have 10‑foot setbacks. The roofline was described as sloping from about 10 feet down to 8 feet at its lowest point.
Staff recommended approval after reviewing the certificate‑of‑appropriateness standards (cited to the board as Certificate of Appropriateness criteria, Section 94‑82) and the administrative variance process. The planner said a public notice had been posted and that, if no objections are received by Aug. 13, the variance may be approved administratively and the applicant may proceed with building permits. Board members moved and seconded approval; the motion carried on a voice vote.
Staff also summarized related prior approvals for the same property: a May 2022 approval to extend metal roof decking, a prior approval for a hot tub and stone pavers, and a November 2024 approval for a pool, matching pavers and an aluminum perimeter fence. Staff said the proposed outdoor kitchen’s materials would match existing materials on the property.
On the garage case (256COA25‑0022, 1244 Southeast Seventh Street), staff asked that the matter be tabled to Sept. 4, 2025 to allow a modification to the request; the board voted to table the item.
During general business, staff said the board’s draft local guidelines are on hold because planned code updates are constrained by a recently passed state statute that, according to staff, limits the city’s ability to change code language at this time. The staff member (identified in the meeting as Brianna) said the guideline update would also require public outreach, alignment with existing standards and final approval by City Council, and summarized the process as lengthy: “our hands are kinda tied right now,” she said, describing the current pause on code updates.
The board set its October meeting for Oct. 14, 2025, and scheduled its next regular meeting for Sept. 4, 2025. The board also approved the minutes from the previous meeting and adjourned.
Votes and formal actions recorded in the meeting minutes, including tabling and approvals, were taken by voice votes; individual member tallies were not specified on the record.
