Ocala advisory board approves several exterior changes across historic district, tables one garage case

The Ocala Historic Preservation Advisory Board approved multiple certificates of appropriateness for properties in the Ocala Historic District and tabled one application after staff requested more work. The approvals covered decking and gates at a Winona Avenue property, driveway and sidewalk pavers and a new front railing, pool fencing at a Southeast Fifth Street property, and replacement windows at a contributing 1930 house; the board voted to table a garage application at 124 Southeast Seventh Street.

The approvals affect properties within the city’s designated historic district and apply the board’s Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) standards and the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards referenced by staff. Board action allows property owners to move forward with the described exterior work, while the tabled garage case will return to the board after staff addresses outstanding items.

Staff presented five COA cases during the meeting and recommended approval for four. The first approved case, COA25-0016 (listed in staff materials as COA25-0016, property at 815 Southeast Fourth Street / 317 Southeast Winona Avenue), would add a concrete block flower box, a wood deck connecting a new garage to a secondary home, and a decorative black metal gate set on two brick pillars. Planning staff noted the primary residence is a 1918 vernacular/classical carpenter structure and a contributing building within the Ocala Historic District; staff found the proposed changes consistent with COA decision criteria (section 94-82(g), subsections 1–5) and recommended approval. The applicant was not present; the board approved the COA by motion and voice vote.

COA25-0020 (driveway and sidewalk) covered replacement of a driveway and sidewalk with tan, white and charcoal pavers and the addition of a black hand railing to steps at the house identified in staff materials as the L.O. Benrid home (constructed 1928). Planning staff described the proposed pavers as examples of the materials and placement the applicant intends to use and said the proposal met COA criteria and the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for entrances and porches. Ryan Raney of Raney Development Group, representing the homeowners, told the board the homeowners “are leaning towards more of the black and gray color.” The board approved the application.

COA25-0021 (1203 Southeast Fifth Street) sought to install 4-foot-tall black aluminum fencing and gates to enclose an existing pool and pool equipment in a rear yard. Staff said the house (constructed 1950 in a masonry vernacular style) is a noncontributing structure within the historic district and that the fencing would be out of public view. Staff recommended approval under the COA criteria and the board approved the fencing as presented.

COA25-0022 (124 Southeast Seventh Street), a garage application, was tabled. Planning staff told the board they discovered issues during review and asked to table the case so staff could resolve outstanding items. The board approved a motion to table the application; staff will return the case to a future agenda with revisions.

COA25-0023 (1238 Southeast Fifth Street) proposed replacement of 30 windows on the primary home and two windows on an existing garage using Andersen A-Series windows with applied muntins that staff described as a fiber-based muntin measuring roughly 7/8 inch in width; staff said the muntin depth was comparable to the existing condition. The primary home (circa 1930, identified in staff materials as Judge Fred R. Hawker’s house) is a contributing structure; staff recommended approval citing the COA criteria and the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for windows. The board approved the window replacement as presented.

Board procedure and staff comments: Planning staff reminded the board that staff reports are increasingly being prepared by multiple department members and that additional staff will assist with site visits and presentations. A staff member named Charlene was identified in the meeting as the author of the windows staff report. During board comments members emphasized the importance of citing ordinance subsections in motions; one board member said a prior failure to include specific subsections had led counsel to overturn an earlier decision.

Votes at a glance

- COA25-0016 (815 SE Fourth St / 317 SE Winona Ave): Deck between garage and secondary home; concrete block flower box; decorative black metal gate with two brick pillars. Staff recommended approval. Applicant not present. Motion approved by voice vote.

- COA25-0020 (driveway/sidewalk and railing; L.O. Benrid home, c.1928): Replace driveway and sidewalk with tan/white/charcoal pavers; add black hand railing to front steps. Raney Development Group represented the owner; contractor Ryan Raney said homeowners prefer black/gray tones. Staff recommended approval; motion approved by voice vote.

- COA25-0021 (1203 SE Fifth St): Install 4-foot black aluminum pool fencing and gates; structure behind house and not visible from street. Staff recommended approval; motion approved by voice vote.

- COA25-0022 (124 SE Seventh St): Garage application. Staff requested tabling to resolve findings; board voted to table the item.

- COA25-0023 (1238 SE Fifth St): Replace 30 primary-home windows and two garage windows with Andersen A-Series units with fiber muntins; primary home is contributing (c.1930). Staff recommended approval citing COA criteria and Secretary of the Interior standards; motion approved by voice vote.

What the board said next: The board’s next meeting date was announced as Aug. 7, 2025. The meeting record shows no correspondence from the public for the cases that were approved and indicates the majority of applications were approved on staff recommendations.

Ending note: The approvals allow property owners to proceed with the described exterior alterations under the conditions reviewed by staff; the board’s tabling of the garage application leaves that work pending further staff review and future board consideration.