The Ocala City Council on Jan. 7 adopted Resolution 2024-9, approving a modification to the Florida Professional Park planned unit development that creates a limited exception to a no-front-yard-parking requirement for certain lots in Block A.

Growth Management planner Indira Madre Varon told the council the subject property — lot 345 within Block A of the Florida Professional Park subdivision, originally part of the 72‑acre Shady Road PUD adopted in 1996 — had topographical constraints that made the applicant’s preferred building placement the most pragmatic option. Staff proposed changing PUD condition No. 6, which prohibited parking in the front yard along Southwest 34th Street (also referenced in the record as Southwest 24th Avenue), to read that parking is not allowed in the front yard except for lots 3, 4 and 5 within Block A.

Varon said the site has a slope of roughly 7 to 17 feet that would require extensive earthwork and infrastructure improvements if the building were moved to avoid front-yard parking, and that staff’s recommended modification preserves the restriction for other properties in the PUD while allowing the subject property to move forward.

Doug Anarelli of Moorhead Engineering, representing the applicant, told the council his client agreed with staff’s recommendation.

The planning and zoning commission voted unanimously to approve the modification at its December 2024 meeting, Varon said; staff also recommended approval. The council voted to adopt Resolution 2024-9. The roll call recorded “Aye” votes from Mister Hilty, Mister Bethea, Mister Mansfield, Mister Musley and Miss Dreyer.

Why it matters: the change lets the property proceed with a site plan that accommodates existing grades while keeping the broader PUD restriction in place for other lots. The item was presented as a modification to an existing PUD rather than a rezoning of the parcel.

Context: Varon described a history of the larger development: the Shady Road PUD was amended multiple times, and in 2005 a portion (Track C) was replatted and recorded as the Florida Professional Park PUD with an amended concurrency development agreement. The adopted modification affects only the stated PUD condition and does not repeal other PUD requirements.

What the council decided: Resolution 2024-9, as presented, was adopted. Staff will proceed with implementing the PUD modification as recorded.