Ocala planning panel approves land-use and rezoning for two city-owned sites to formalize government use

The City of Ocala Planning and Zoning Commission approved land-use map amendments and rezonings for two city-owned properties on motions Tuesday, moving both sites from “employment center” and M-1 (light industrial) zoning to a public future land use and GU (governmental use) zoning.

City staff presented both requests as city-initiated changes to match the parcels’ current and intended uses. Emily Johnson of the City of Ocala Growth Management Department summarized the first request for approximately 12.81 acres at “3001 Northeast 20 First Street and the parcel directly to the east,” saying, “This is a city staff initiated request to change the future land use designation of the subject properties from employment center to public and rezone from m 1 light industrial to GU governmental use.” The commission approved case LUC25-0002 and the companion rezoning ZON25-0002 by roll-call votes.

Why it matters: formalizing the land-use and zoning designation as public/GU aligns the legal classification with current municipal operations and clears the way for planned capital work cited by staff, including a truck shed and parking related to Ocala Fiber Network and other governmental complex functions.

City staff told commissioners the 12.81-acre parcel is part of the City of Ocala Governmental Complex and that the existing building on parcel 24264-001-04 houses administrative offices for Ocala Fiber Network. Staff also said a capital improvement project is under review for an additional truck shed and parking on the associated parcel (parcel 24264-000-00). Emily Johnson noted staff’s findings that the requested public land-use and GU rezoning are compatible with surrounding uses and consistent with Section 122-244 of the City of Ocala Code of Ordinances; staff recommended approval.

The Commission approved the land-use amendment (LUC25-0002) on a motion; roll-call voting recorded five ayes (Branson; Cudrow; Carlock; Martin; Humble) and the motion carried. A separate motion to approve the rezoning (ZON25-0002) also passed on a roll-call vote (Branson; Martin; Carlock; Boudreaux; London — all aye).

A second, related request covered two parcels totaling about 12.42 acres in the 1,800 block of Southwest 15th Avenue. Bria Miller, City Planner II, said the city purchased those parcels in February 2006 and that they have served as a storm collection yard and lay-down/debris staging area for Public Works and stormwater operations. “We are requesting to resign the subject property from m 1 light industrial to g u governmental use, as well as change the land use from employment center to public,” Miller said. Staff recommended approval for LUC25-0001 and ZON25-0001.

When a commissioner asked why the change was being requested now, Miller replied that the intent was “so that it can be consistent with the other government properties.” Miller also described the site’s operational role: during hurricane response and debris events it is used by Public Works for drop-off and staging.

The commission voted to approve the 12.42-acre land-use change (LUC25-0001) and the rezoning (ZON25-0001). Roll-call recorded unanimous aye votes for each motion (LUC25-0001: Martin; Branson; Carlock; Boudreaux; Lundin — aye; ZON25-0001: Martin; Boudreaux; Carla; Branson; London — aye), and both motions carried.

There were no members of the public who spoke on either item during the public-comment periods. Staff made no additional comments. The Planning and Zoning Commission noted the next meeting date on the record as March 10, 2025, and then adjourned.

Votes at a glance LUC25-0002 (future land use change, ~12.81 acres at 3001 Northeast 20 First Street and adjacent parcel): approved; roll-call ayes recorded for Branson; Cudrow; Carlock; Martin; Humble. ZON25-0002 (rezoning from M-1 to GU for same parcels): approved; roll-call ayes recorded for Branson; Martin; Carlock; Boudreaux; London. LUC25-0001 (future land use change, ~12.42 acres, 1800 block SW 15th Ave): approved; roll-call ayes recorded for Martin; Branson; Carlock; Boudreaux; Lundin. ZON25-0001 (rezoning from M-1 to GU for same parcels): approved; roll-call ayes recorded for Martin; Boudreaux; Carla; Branson; London.

Meeting context: These were city-initiated, non-controversial map and zoning changes to align legal land-use and zoning designations with existing municipal uses and to allow planned capital improvements and operational consistency across the municipal complex.