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Board schedules second hearing after debate over concerts, traffic and parking at Golden Ocala/WEC
Summary
At a first public hearing, staff and applicants described a development‑agreement amendment for Golden Ocala/World Equestrian Center that would remove a concert prohibition and defer traffic updates; commissioners and members of the public raised concerns about noise, traffic, parking and the timing of approvals, and the board set a second hearing for March 18, 2026.
The Marion County Board of County Commissioners held a first public hearing on a proposed amendment to the Golden Ocala development agreement that would change permitted uses and remove a standing prohibition on standalone outdoor concerts at portions of the World Equestrian Center (WEC) site.
Chris Rising of Growth Services told commissioners the amendment focuses on three items: (1) listing development uses that mirror concurrent comprehensive‑plan and PUD amendments, (2) deleting the project’s existing concert prohibition so mapped outdoor and indoor event facilities could include concerts, and (3) a six‑month commitment for the applicant to submit further traffic‑study amendments and related updates. Rising emphasized this was the first of two hearings and that final action would not be taken today.
Applicant counsel Jimmy Gooding reviewed the agreement’s history and said the original concert prohibition owed largely to traffic concerns rather than noise; he said the applicant would bring a sound‑design expert and additional traffic analysis to the next hearing. County engineer Stephen Cahoon described negotiations on right‑of‑way for 80th Street (about 21 parcels in the corridor, roughly half already in county ownership) and recommended PUD conditions or annual/permitting tools that would let staff require corrections if events produced spillback or roadside parking.
Traffic and parking analyses were discussed in detail. Consultants described a suite of studies that modeled multiple scenarios: an all‑fields simultaneous worst‑case scenario produced an estimate near 5,030 parking spaces, while a more measured demand analysis produced an estimated need of about 4,061 spaces. Amber Gardner of Kimley Horn said the developer will construct long turn lanes (about 400 feet) at the 464 entrance, add left‑turn treatments and install an eventual signal at NW 87th Court. The applicant said it would provide internal shuttles and on‑site capture strategies and asked that special‑event permit requirements be calibrated to avoid duplicative or excessive paperwork for properly managed events.
Multiple commissioners expressed concern about removing a blanket prohibition on concerts; they asked whether retaining a numerical cap (for example the four special events discussed previously) or explicit geographic limits on where concerts could occur would be prudent until traffic and noise outcomes are better understood. Steve Klein, an attorney representing a nearby resident, urged the board to wait for comp‑plan amendments and the outstanding traffic studies before advancing the agreement and said his clients had submitted letters for the record.
After discussion, Commissioner Stone moved and Commissioner McLean seconded to schedule the second public hearing on 03/18/2026 at 1:30 p.m.; the motion passed unanimously. Staff and the applicant said they would present additional traffic modeling, a sound‑design witness and more detailed special‑event permit proposals at the next hearing.
