Planning commission backs Homestead Villas PUD expansion, sends land‑use change to county commissioners

The Marion County Planning & Zoning Commission on Aug. 11 recommended approval of a small‑scale future land‑use amendment and a Planned Unit Development rezoning for a proposed 50‑unit single‑family‑attached neighborhood immediately north of State Road 40 near Ocala International Airport.

County growth‑services staff told the commission the proposal would change two western parcels from rural lands to medium residential and convert three parcels to a single PUD. Staff said the site is inside the county's urban‑growth boundary, has access to municipal water and sewer from the City of Ocala, meets the PUD's open‑space requirement and produces a relatively small traffic impact: an estimated 360 daily trips and roughly 31 peak hour trips, according to the applicant's traffic statement. Based on those analyses, staff concluded the request is consistent with the county comprehensive plan and recommended approval with conditions.

Applicant attorney Fred Roberts told the commission his client has already acquired a five‑acre core of the parcels and said that portion is 'fully entitled' for a similar product. Roberts said the expanded PUD would allow the developer to build a higher‑quality for‑sale product with garages, internal amenities and a homeowners association to maintain buffers and fencing; he called the project 'very well situated to the area' and said it responds to the 'step‑down' pattern of adjacent land uses.

Neighbors who live directly adjacent to the proposed site urged caution. Russell Matzinger, who lives on Northwest 70‑Third Terrace, told commissioners the area still supports equestrian uses and said 'this thing's gotta be squashed.' Other residents cited an incorrect county land‑use sign on the site, concerns that a roadway barrier would be removed to allow cut‑through traffic, higher nighttime lighting and noise, increased traffic and the safety of children and animals in the area. One resident said she had not received mailed notice and asked for better signage.

Engineer Richard Bush told the commission the development would connect to State Road 40 via Southwest 70‑Third Avenue and said the amount of traffic it generates would not push the corridor past adopted service thresholds. He added the project team would submit a traffic statement (not a full study) because the peak trips are below local thresholds and said the applicant plans to pave the county road up to the site entrance.

Commissioners voted to recommend approval of the future‑land‑use amendment (motion by Commissioner Michael Kreuter; passed with one opposition) and, separately, to recommend approval of the rezoning to a PUD with staff conditions (motion by Commissioner Michael Crowe; passed). Both recommendations will be transmitted to the Board of County Commissioners; the applicant was told the BOCC will hear the items Sept. 15 at 1:30 p.m.

What commissioners asked staff and the developer to clarify before the BOCC hearing included the exact traffic statement documentation, the design of the modified buffer and fence along the northern and eastern boundaries, and the homeowner association maintenance responsibilities for landscaping and fencing.

The commission's action was procedural: tonight's recommendation will be advisory to the Board of County Commissioners, which makes final land‑use and rezoning decisions.