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Ocala council adopts CDD expansion, approves PD amendment and introduces rezoning for 18-acre site
Summary
The Ocala City Council adopted an ordinance expanding the Ridge at Heath Brook Community Development District, approved an amended planned development plan for a 55-home subdivision and introduced a first-reading rezoning application affecting about 18.24 acres.
The Ocala City Council on July 1 adopted an ordinance expanding the Ridge at Heath Brook Community Development District and approved an amended planned development (PD) plan for a single-family subdivision, while also introducing a separate rezoning for about 18.24 acres near Southwest 40th Avenue.
City planner Emily Johnson told the council the amended PD plan and standards book reflect a reduced road right‑of‑way and smaller utility easements but do not change permitted uses or the number of lots. “The requested amendments do not include any alterations to the permitted uses, lot sizes, number of lots, layout, or buffers,” Johnson said during her presentation. Council members voted to adopt the PD amendment by roll call.
Why it matters: the PD amendment and CDD expansion affect how infrastructure is financed and constructed for new housing and shape what the developer must provide or dedicate to the city. The CDD is a financing vehicle that can plan, finance and maintain infrastructure; expanding its boundaries increases the acreage that would be eligible for CDD financing and operations.
Details: the PD amendment follows the council’s Nov. 19, 2024 rezoning of the site from institutional to plan development for 55 single‑family homes with parks, a pavilion, playground and a perimeter walking trail. The current amendment reduces the eastern road right‑of‑way from 50 feet to 45 feet; it also reduces corner‑lot side‑street setbacks from 15 feet to 10 feet and narrows typical utility easements from 10 feet to 5 feet. Ocala Electric Utility reviewed and approved the reduced utility easement with the condition that requirements of subsection 70‑60203 be met, Johnson said.
The council also adopted ordinance 2025‑32 on second reading to expand the Ridge at Heath Brook Community Development District by 29.142 acres, increasing the CDD to about 104.938 acres. Johnson described a CDD as “an independent unit of special purpose local government authorized to plan, finance, construct, operate, and maintain community‑wide infrastructure” under Florida law.
On a related land‑use matter, the council introduced (first reading) Ordinance ZON25‑0007 to change zoning from R‑3 multifamily residential to B‑2 community business for parcels southwest of the intersection of Southwest 40th Avenue and Southwest 40th Place, encompassing roughly 18.24 acres. That item was introduced and will return for second reading.
Council action and process notes: the PD amendment and the CDD expansion were presented by Emily Johnson of the Growth Management Department. Councilman Musley moved for adoption of ordinance 2025‑32 on second reading and the motion was seconded; roll call votes recorded ayes from council members present. The rezoning (ZON25‑0007) was introduced on first reading; council directed staff to schedule subsequent hearings as required.
What to watch next: the rezoning will return for a required second reading and public hearing. Any final approval of development plans will require the developer to meet the conditions noted by staff and to dedicate required public right‑of‑way and utilities.
