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Record of Proceedings

Ocala Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting - April 13, 2026

City Council & Boards — Monday, April 13, 2026
BodyOcala, Florida
SessionCity Council & Boards
DateMonday, April 13, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:26:07

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
0:00

Greetings everyone.

0:01

Welcome to the Account Planning and Zoning Commission on Monday, April 13th.

0:06

Please stand with me as we say the Pledge of Allegiance.

0:17

And to the Republic for which it stands on the nation under God.

0:26

Thank you.

0:26

You may be seated.

0:29

Moving into agenda item one B.

0:31

Um, could you please call the roll?

0:33

Mr.

0:33

Branson?

0:34

Here.

0:34

Mr.

0:35

Carlot.

0:35

Here.

0:36

Mr.

0:36

London?

0:37

Here.

0:37

Mr.

0:37

McDonald is absent.

0:39

Mr.

0:39

Jenkins is absent.

0:40

Mr.

0:41

Lopez?

0:42

Here.

0:42

Ms.

0:42

Campbell?

0:43

Here.

0:43

We have a quorum.

0:44

Thank you so much.

0:45

Moving on to agenda item one C the agenda notes.

0:48

Cases heard by the planning and zoning commission will be presented to City Council in accordance with the schedule provided after each case in the agenda.

0:54

Please note that City Council's meetings will begin at 4 p.m.

0:58

Um moving on to agenda item number two, the proof of publication.

1:01

Could you please read it?

1:02

It was acknowledged that a public meeting notice was posted at City Hall and published in Ocalagazette on March 27th, 2026.

1:09

Thank you.

1:10

Umber three, there are no approval of minutes.

1:13

So moving on to our first public hearing, agenda item 4A, presentation or parcel 25 or 2250800 presentation by Ms.

1:27

Miller.

1:31

Staff asking we can do the presentations for both of the public hearings at the same time.

1:36

Wonderful.

1:36

Thank you.

1:41

Yes, so this request is a public hearing for off-site parking associated with an existing church in the R2 and the R3 zoning classifications, which is PH 25-002 and PH26-0001.

2:00

Background for this property, they were both annexed in 1975.

2:04

One was acquired in 2022 and the other was acquired in 2024.

2:10

The property that is to the north is actually currently being used as uh non-conforming parking, grass parking for the church currently.

2:18

Um and they just received a special exception approval for parking facilities in the R2 and the R3 zoning classifications this March.

2:28

Here's an aerial map of the property.

2:33

A case map of the properties.

2:37

And next we have the site map where you can see that both of the parking facilities will be within 300 feet of the existing church and place of worship.

2:48

Here is a view of cry of deliverance from Northwest Eighth Street looking south.

2:55

Next, you have a view of Northwest Eighth Street looking west.

3:00

Following that, you have parcel B from Northwest 8th Street looking south.

3:06

And then you have parcel C from Northwest Eighth Street.

3:14

Staff found that the request meets the standards for off-street parking um approval pursuant to section 122735 as well as section 122-1002.

3:28

And it um also received its approval again for the special exception to have those facilities in those zoning districts.

3:35

Based on the findings, staff recommends approval for the following conditions.

3:39

Please bear with me as I read them off.

3:41

The two off-street parking facilities are only to be used as off-site parking for Cry of Deliverance Church.

3:48

The approval shall be granted for and run with the subject properties, which is parcel identification number two five zero eight-00-00 and two two four-nine seven-00-00, as long as the church remains the primary use and the off-site parking remains an accessory use to the church.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Planning and Zoning█████████████████████████████████████████████71%
Procedural██████9%
Affordable Housing████7%
Public Engagement██3%
Parking█2%
Transportation Safety█2%
Environmental Protection█2%
Public Safety█2%
Technology and Innovation█1%
Summary of Proceedings

Ocala Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting - April 13, 2026

The Ocala Planning & Zoning Commission met on Monday, April 13, 2026, at 5:30 PM in City Hall Council Chambers. The meeting covered two public hearings for off-street parking, a rezoning request, three planned development amendments, and the adoption of Vision 2050. The commission approved most items but denied the Kinward at Heathbrook PD amendment due to changes to wetland/open space areas.

Public Hearings

  • PH25-0002 and PH26-0001 (Cry of Deliverance Church): Approved two requests for off-street parking facilities on land within 300 feet of the church in R-2 and R-3 districts. Staff presented conditions including that the parking be used only for the church, site plan approval within 24 months, and an alternate surface waiver from the city engineer. The agent, Andy Kesselring, noted the church has used the lots for years and is bringing them up to code. Both items were approved unanimously with conditions.

Rezoning

  • ZON26-0001 (200 block SW 27th Avenue): Approved rezoning from B-2 (Community Business) to M-1 (Light Industrial) for a 1.25-acre vacant lot. Staff found it consistent with the Employment Center future land use and compatible with surrounding M-1 zoning. The agent, Rodney Rogers, stated the use was discussed with staff and M-1 was recommended. Approved unanimously.

Planned Development Amendments

  • PD22-44929 (TBMI II, LLC – Wine and Oaks PD): Approved amendment to refine setbacks, site layout, and add residential sign locations while maintaining density and buffers. Staff added a condition restricting access to internal roads and prohibiting single-lot subdivisions. The applicant, Fred Roberts, explained the changes accommodate single-family residential market demand. Approved with conditions unanimously.
  • PD20-0003 (Saving Mercy PD): Approved amendment to increase building height from 35 to 45 feet, revise layout into four phases, and increase units from 144 to 200 (density from 15.47 to 21.48 du/ac). Staff noted the project provides transitional housing for individuals experiencing homelessness. The applicant, Truck Pidgeon, cited successful Florida Housing grants for the expansion. Approved with conditions unanimously.
  • PD25-0003 (Kinward at Heathbrook PD): Denied. The applicant requested amendment from duplex to quadruplex units (townhomes) with same unit count (146) and density (4.53 du/ac), increased open space from 41% to 53%, and revised layout. During public comment, residents from 6560 SW 51st Court objected to townhomes being placed near their property, replacing a previously identified wetland. The applicant explained wetland mitigation plans. Commissioner Lopez moved to deny due to the change in wetland/open space location. The motion carried 3-2 (Lopez, Carelock, Jenkins in favor; Branson, London against).

Vision 2050

  • Resolution 2026-XX: Jeff Shrum presented the updated comprehensive plan vision for 2050, highlighting population growth (estimated 92,000), focus areas (East Ocala, downtown core, West Ocala, airport), and action items including mixed-use infill, housing diversity, multimodal transportation, and historic preservation. The commission voted to recommend adoption to City Council, with an added emphasis on coordinating with Marion County Public Schools on safe routes to school programs under action item 2.5. Motion carried unanimously.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved: Public hearings PH25-0002 and PH26-0001 with conditions; rezoning ZON26-0001; PD amendments PD22-44929 and PD20-0003 with conditions.
  • Denied: PD amendment PD25-0003 (Kinward at Heathbrook) due to wetland/open space relocation.
  • Recommended to City Council: Vision 2050 adoption with an added priority on school safe routes coordination.
  • Next Meeting: May 11, 2026.

Meeting Transcript

Greetings everyone. Welcome to the Account Planning and Zoning Commission on Monday, April 13th. Please stand with me as we say the Pledge of Allegiance. And to the Republic for which it stands on the nation under God. Thank you. You may be seated. Moving into agenda item one B. Um, could you please call the roll? Mr. Branson? Here. Mr. Carlot. Here. Mr. London? Here. Mr. McDonald is absent. Mr. Jenkins is absent. Mr. Lopez? Here. Ms. Campbell? Here. We have a quorum. Thank you so much. Moving on to agenda item one C the agenda notes. Cases heard by the planning and zoning commission will be presented to City Council in accordance with the schedule provided after each case in the agenda. Please note that City Council's meetings will begin at 4 p.m. Um moving on to agenda item number two, the proof of publication. Could you please read it? It was acknowledged that a public meeting notice was posted at City Hall and published in Ocalagazette on March 27th, 2026. Thank you. Umber three, there are no approval of minutes. So moving on to our first public hearing, agenda item 4A, presentation or parcel 25 or 2250800 presentation by Ms. Miller. Staff asking we can do the presentations for both of the public hearings at the same time. Wonderful. Thank you. Yes, so this request is a public hearing for off-site parking associated with an existing church in the R2 and the R3 zoning classifications, which is PH 25-002 and PH26-0001. Background for this property, they were both annexed in 1975. One was acquired in 2022 and the other was acquired in 2024. The property that is to the north is actually currently being used as uh non-conforming parking, grass parking for the church currently. Um and they just received a special exception approval for parking facilities in the R2 and the R3 zoning classifications this March. Here's an aerial map of the property. A case map of the properties. And next we have the site map where you can see that both of the parking facilities will be within 300 feet of the existing church and place of worship.

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