Ocala Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting Summary — June 8, 2026

The Ocala Planning & Zoning Commission met at 5:30 PM on Monday, June 8, 2026, in City Hall Council Chambers, 110 SE Watula Avenue, Ocala, Florida. The commission acts in an advisory capacity to the Ocala City Council on zoning and land development matters. The available transcript covers agenda item 7B through adjournment; earlier agenda items — including the Mockingbird Ridge and TBMI Commercial conceptual subdivisions, the Lake Louise Estates right-of-way abrogation, Future Land Use amendments, and rezoning items 7A — were listed but are not detailed in the transcript provided.

Routine and Procedural Items

• The agenda noted that a public meeting notice was posted at City Hall and published in the Ocala Gazette on May 22, 2026.
• Approval of the May 26, 2026 meeting minutes was listed on the agenda; no minutes document was included in the available source materials.

Public Comments & Testimony

ZON 26-0009 (Rezone to Institutional)

• A resident living approximately 300 feet from the subject property asked how the rezoning would affect nearby residents and expressed concern that a school use behind her dead-end street could allow public access into private properties.
• The applicant's representative responded that the change to Institutional is a downzone from R-3, that the property would be used as part of Capstone Academy's expansion, that sports fields rather than parking are intended, and that future site-plan approval would address buffering, setbacks, trees, and access controls.

PD26-0001 (Ocala 52 Partners)

• Sherry Dobratz, 4750 SW 51st Terrace, directly east of the property, opposed the development. She stated that mining had 'clawed out 15 feet' on her property line and raised concerns about quarry ponds, sinkhole risks, groundwater contamination, well water, and stormwater carrying pollutants from 590 units into the aquifer.
• Danielle Dobratz, part owner of Grace Hill Farm, echoed concerns about the area's pervasive sinkhole history, noting their aquifer was measured at 26 feet and that the subject property is about 15 feet lower.
• Marcia Armstrong, 5765 SW 52nd Street, provided photographs showing mining tailings, a large dirt/limerock ridge, and the pond, and said an independent multi-point geotechnical survey should be completed before annexation and rezoning decisions. She said surrounding county properties rely on well water and that the development does not fit the area.
• Tim Armstrong, 5765 SW 52nd Street, described past heavy blasting that shook his yard, cracked concrete, and felled trees; recounted water-quality concerns, including a warning not to eat fish from the pond; and cited sinkhole problems at Four Ranch from 2010 through 2025. He questioned why the project was being considered and alleged the applicants came to the city because the county would not approve it.
• During the later public comment period, Tim Armstrong again disputed the agent's claim about blasting limits, citing an incident where blasting stopped only after the hospital was affected.

Discussion Items

ZON 26-0009 — 2781/2801 SW 20th Street Rezone to Institutional

• Planner Brea Miller presented the request to rezone approximately 2.98 acres — all of Parcel 23472-004-00 and a 1.19-acre portion of Parcel 23472-001-00 — from R-3, Multi-Family Residential, to INST, Institutional.
• Staff found the institutional zoning consistent with the Neighborhood future land use designation and compatible with surrounding development, with existing public infrastructure and adequate public facilities. Staff recommended approval.

PD26-0001 — Ocala 52 Partners Rezone and Planned Development

• Staff presented two related requests for approximately 82.10 acres at 5575 SW 52nd Street, Parcel 23835-000-00: item 7C, a rezone from A-1, General Agriculture (County), to PD, Planned Development (City); and item 7D, adoption of the Ocala 52 Partners PD Plan and Standards Book. The agenda lists the address as 5575 SW 52nd Street, while the motion in the transcript used 5574 SW 52nd Street.
• The applicant is Ocala 52 Partners LLC; the agent is Tillman and Associates Engineering.
• The property is a former quarry mined from the 1960s, with reclamation completed in 2022 and the property acquired by the petitioner in 2024. Concurrent annexation and low-intensity future land use requests were previously recommended by the commission at a May 26, 2026 special meeting.
• The PD plan divides the site into three development areas: a 4.5-acre commercial area along SW 52nd Street allowing up to about 147,000 square feet of commercial development; a 20.2-acre multifamily area with about 360 townhome and apartment units at 17.8 units per acre; and a rear 45-acre single-family area with 230 units at just over 5 units per acre. The overall density is about 7.16 units per acre.
• Key requested variations from the zoning code include 40-foot-wide single-family lots, 20-foot-wide townhome lots, entirely private 40-foot-wide roads, sidewalks on only one side of interior streets, and deferral of the SW 52nd Street sidewalk until later phases.
• Staff recommended approval for both items with conditions, including cessation of the existing agricultural use within one year after zoning approval or before future development, removal of existing structures and septic system, connection to city public facilities, allowance of permitted B-2 uses, private ownership and maintenance of roadways, and phased sidewalk construction along SW 52nd Street.
• The school board representative, Allison Campbell, non-voting, noted Saddlewood is at 96% capacity with 639 students and 75 more students would put an impact on the school. She questioned whether the staff report's reference to 'school concurrency' represented a policy change. Staff replied that the term was misstated and would be clarified before City Council, and that impact fees rather than concurrency apply.
• David Tillman, the applicant's engineer, responded to public concerns by saying subdivision development would require permits and nutrient-reduction protections compared to agricultural use, that mined sites are less prone to sinkholes, and that post-tension slabs and soil management can address soils. He said the annexation was driven by city utilities being adjacent, not by county denial, and he disputed rumors of a school bus in the pond.
• Planning Director Aubrey Hale said the annexation transmittal was sent for state review on June 3, 2026, with review expected around July 3, 2026, and that the items may be consolidated for the August 4, 2026 City Council meeting.

Key Outcomes

• ZON 26-0009: Motion to approve agenda item 7B carried on a roll-call vote. The commission recommended approval of the rezone to Institutional.
• PD26-0001, Item 7C: Motion to approve the rezone of the 82.10-acre property from A-1 to PD, with conditions as defined in the staff report, carried.
• PD26-0001, Item 7D: Motion to adopt the Ocala 52 Partners PD Plan and Standards Book, with conditions as defined in the staff report, carried.
• The commission's actions are recommendations to the Ocala City Council. The next P&Z meeting is July 13, 2026, and the meeting was adjourned.