by Horse Farms Forever | Jul 24, 2024 | News
Do you have expertise in the areas of planning, real estate, land development, or agriculture? If so, Marion County has a vacancy on the Land Development Regulation Commission (LDRC). This is an exciting opportunity to serve your community and learn first-hand the inner working of the Land Development Code and how it relates to the Comprehensive Plan.
The LDRC’s role in shaping future growth is even more important now, as Marion County is updating its policies in the Comprehensive Plan through the Evaluation and Appraisal Report (EAR). The Comprehensive Plan is like a road map for the community and it will guide where and how Marion County grows over the next 20 years.
The LDRC members should be representative of the technical fields related to land development regulations including the ability to evaluate and recommend specific regulatory standards and criteria. Preferably, they should be familiar with the areas of planning, environmental science, agriculture and the development industry. The current LDRC members include a land surveyor, several engineers, a land developer and a realtor. This is a volunteer position.
The members of the LDRC are appointed by the Board of County Commissioners. To be eligible, you must be a qualified voter and resident of Marion County. Applications may be obtained at the Marion County Board of County Commissioners’ Office located at 601 S.E. 25th Ave., Ocala, Florida; online at https://www.marionfl.org/my-commissioners/advisory-boards via an online application or by downloading and emailing a PDF: or by calling 352-438-2323.
The deadline for receiving applications is Friday, August 2nd, 2024 at 4 p.m.
The Marion County Board of County Commissioners plans to appoint members on Tuesday, August 20th, 2024 or as soon thereafter as possible.
The LDRC has several important duties:
- To review and consider all proposed land development regulations and amendments thereto.
- To hold public hearings regarding proposed land development regulations and amendments thereto.
- To make recommendations to the county commission regarding consistency of proposed land development regulations or amendments with the county’s approved and adopted comprehensive plan.
- To review and make recommendations to the county commission regarding the adoption and amendments to the Land Development Code.
- To monitor and oversee the effectiveness and status of the Land Development Code and recommend to the county commission such changes in the code as may be required.
- To make its special knowledge and expertise available, upon reasonable written request and authorization of the county commission to any official, department, board, commission or agency of the county, state or federal governments.
- To adopt rules of procedure consistent with law and the Land Development Code as are necessary for administration and governance of its proceedings.
- To perform such other functions, duties and responsibilities as may be assigned to it by the Board or by general or special law.
Advisory Board Main Page: https://www.marionfl.org/my-commissioners/advisory-boards
Link to the Online Application: https://www.marionfl.org/my-commissioners/advisory-boards/advisory-board-application
by Horse Farms Forever | Jul 16, 2024 | News
Signs of Protest
Who remembers the “Save It, Don’t Pave It” signs from 2018 that were all over Marion County when the Florida Department of Transportation was proposing a toll road through the Farmland Preservation Area? Those signs did a lot to raise awareness that organized citizens to stop the coastal connector and led to the birth of Horse Farms Forever.
Signs of Unity
Now you may have noticed that since then those signs have been replaced by Horse Farms Forever signs on fences all over the county. These signs are given to our members who choose to display them on the fences of their farms and businesses. They send an important message from our members to all who live here and to those just passing through:
- HFF Members care about our horse farms.
- They want horses and horse farms to continue to characterize Marion County forever.
- Marion County has a watchdog organization (HFF) to help guide its growth in a direction that protects its open spaces.
- Our members are proud to be a part of that mission.
- Our members are numerous!
Much like the “neighborhood watch” signs that you see on our streets for crime prevention, the Horse Farms Forever signs make it clear that farm owners and equestrians all over the county, and particularly in the Farmland Preservation Area, are engaged in the conversation about conservation. These signs signal shared values and commitment to what makes Marion County unique and defines our quality of life. They invite your neighbors to ask questions, which gives you as a member the opportunity to help spread the word about preserving our open spaces and beautiful places in a natural and neighborly way.
Sign Up!
If you are a member at the $100 level or more and don’t have a fence sign, we welcome you to request one. A volunteer will reach out to you to set up the installation. The simple statement of a sign on your fence, added in with all the other fence signs out there around the County, sends a strong message without saying a word. We hope you’ll take us up on the offer.
Not Yet A Member?
Join us! You can request a Fence Sign on your membership form.
It is the vision and mission of Horse Farms Forever to inspire conservation of horse farms through education, awareness and idea exchange so as to preserve natural pasture land focusing on horses and their habitats, to protect soil and water on which they depend, and minimize land use conflicts
in Marion County, Florida.
We are watchful of government and others to preserve and protect horse farms and farmland for future generations - especially in the Farmland Preservation Area. We are neither anti-growth nor anti-development; we encourage urban growth to remain inside the Urban Growth Boundary.
Horse Farms Forever® is a Florida not-for-profit corporation registered with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services as a charitable organization and approved as a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) corporation by the Internal Revenue Service. Horse Farms Forever® does not have a political mission. Our status as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization does not allow us to participate or intervene in political activities. The organization will neither advocate on behalf of political candidates nor advocate for the passage of legislation.
by Horse Farms Forever | Jul 9, 2024 | Events, News
How fast will Marion County grow over the next 20 years?
The population is estimated to grow to nearly 500,000 residents by 2040. That’s an increase of about 100,000 new people living and working in Marion County.
You can help plan for this growth! Marion County is updating its policies in the Comprehensive Plan through the Evaluation and Appraisal Report (EAR). The Comprehensive Plan is like a road map for the community and it will guide where and how Marion County grows over the next 20 years.
Planning for the next 20 years is important and your feedback on how best to manage growth and guide the community’s vision for the future will help keep Marion County an amazing place to live!
1. Fill out the Survey:
Complete the Beyond 2024 Survey and Map Survey
2. Attend the EAR Workshop!
Want to be part of the visioning process? Marion County is hosting workshops throughout the County. Workshops are open to the public and residents.
The workshops will be held at different locations in the County to make it easy for residents to attend. There are two workshops near the Farmland Preservation Area:
Wednesday, July 17 at the Sparr United Methodist Church
11:30 AM to 1:30 PM
13100 NE Jacksonville Road, Sparr, FL 32192
Thursday, July 25 at Golden Hills Country Club
6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
4782 NW 80th Avenue, Ocala, FL 34482
We believe that horses create the character and culture that make Marion County unique and special. For there to be horses, there must be horse farms. In Marion County, there is about one horse for every four people. The equine industry contributes about one-fifth of the economy and one-fifth of the jobs. In addition, rural farmland creates open spaces that act as filtration for the Floridian aquifer which is at the source of all life in Florida. Further, the Farmland Preservation Area acts as a protective umbrella for the primary and secondary protection zones for Rainbow Springs and Silver Springs.
by Horse Farms Forever | Jul 3, 2024 | News
In These Long Days of Summer, Our Grass Roots are Growing Strong.
Horse Farms Forever and our critical mission are carried forward by the longstanding commitments of our Board and members. Take a quick tour through our Member’s Logos and you’ll get a sense of the size and diversity of our herd. This bodes well for the future of horse farms in Marion County!
See who has renewed their commitments this quarter, and allow us to introduce you to our newest herd mates.
Thank you, new and renewing members!
* This spotlight features our new & renewing donors at the $500 & up level as of July 1st, 2024.
New to the Herd
We welcome you!
Corporate Bronze
Corporate Bronze
Renewing Founders/Directors
Our dedicated Board of Directors have served tirelessly – most for the entire six years of our existence. Please join us in thanking them. We couldn’t ask for a better group to represent us in the community and provide wise guidance as we grow.
Corporate Founders – Gold
Brook Ledge Horse Transportation – Corporate Founder and Conservation Summit Title Sponsor
Saint Bernard Foundation – Corporate Founder
Lugano Diamonds – Corporate Founder
Advent Health Ocala – Corporate Founder
Niall Brennan Stables – Corporate Founder
JP Morgan Chase – Corporate Founder
UF Health – Corporate Founder
Icard Merrill
Renewing Individuals & Families
Matt & Courtney Varney – Founder Family
Vivian Day and John Stroh
Page Flournoy
Individual Leader – RENEWING
Tim & Cheryl Holecamp
Family Leaders – RENEWING
by Horse Farms Forever | Apr 8, 2024 | News
Spring showers bring new members!
New members are popping up all over the place this Spring. As a large herd, we can turn our concerns into smart planning for a future that both grows our economy and protects our horse farms.
What does it mean when a Marion County business aligns with Horse Farms Forever by joining as a member? Quite simply, it means that they care about our open spaces and beautiful places. It means that they are willing to support farmland preservation and our unique equestrian heritage. Thank you, new and renewing members!
* This spotlight features our new & renewing donors at the $500 & up level as of April 1st, 2024.
New to the Herd
We welcome you!
Fresh Start Farm Therapy – Corporate Bronze
Dowman Family Foundation – Individual Leader
Ocala Stud – Corporate Gold
Imagine – Marne Fauber – Corporate Gold
Southern Heritage Developers, LLC – Corporate Silver
Great American Insurance – Corporate Silver
Advanced Myographic Technologies, LLC. – Corporate Bronze
Next Level Farm – Corporate Bronze
Renewing Individuals & Families
The Goodwin Family & James W. Goodwin, Esq.
Individual Leader – RENEWING
John S. Gaither
Individual Leader – RENEWING
Gary Bybee
Individual Leader – RENEWING
David & Aline Velez
Individual Patron – RENEWING
Nancy deCavaignac
Individual Patron – RENEWING
