Machine Guns, Horses, Alcohol?

Machine Guns, Horses, Alcohol?

by | Oct 30, 2026 | News, Watching

Machine Guns, Horses, Alcohol?

Does this sound like a recipe for disaster to you? That is the request coming before the Board of County Commissioners at their Tuesday, November 17th public hearing.

At this week’s Planning and Zoning Commission’s public hearing, David Tillman as agent for Douglas Ray Marcum, requested a Special Use Permit (SUP) for a private membership shooting range on a 10-acre parcel in a quiet rural neighborhood that abuts the Indian Lake State Forest, and its very popular equestrian trails. The Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously approved the SUP at their October 26th public hearing.

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Machine Guns Until Midnight

According to the public testimony given at the hearing, there are no restrictions on the types of guns used. This means that even machine guns are allowed. And it’s going to be loud! Also, once a month, night shooting until 12 AM was requested!

“If you shoot off a 360 or if you shoot off an AR-15, you better have earplugs in because you will not be able to hear for another 20 to 30 minutes,” said Kenneth Odum, senior planner for Growth Services.

Horses and Gunfire Are a Dangerous Mix

Mr. Odum mentioned an area of concern was the horse trails within Indian Lake State Forest. The entire southern border of the property and the shooting range are adjacent to the state forest. But he further stated, that the trails were not in the line of fire (48.20).

The horses will be glad to hear that news!

Horses can be startled by sudden, explosive sounds, potentially putting riders, horses, and other trail users at risk. Even if the trails are outside the line of fire, that does not eliminate the impact of intense gunfire immediately adjacent to the forest.

There are 11 miles of designated horse trails at Indian Lake, which also links to the Silver River Forest Conservation Area.

Alcohol Permitted on Site

As to alcohol consumption during shooting, one of the Planning & Zoning Commissioners asked if “drink and shoot” was allowed (1.09.00) “You can do that at just about any range you want to go to as Mr. Tillman indicated, that is quite the pastime at the one on the eastern portion of the County,” stated Mr. Odum.

While Mr. Tillman assured the volunteer Planning and Zoning Commissioners that safety would be the priority, he also acknowledged that alcohol would be allowed at the facility (1.12.35).

“As far as the drinking is concerned, I won’t say that alcohol won’t ever get consumed on the site, but I will say that you will not be drinking or drunk while out there shooting a firearm.” stated Mr. Tillman.

Community Concerns

One of the adjacent landowners who has lived in the quiet rural community for nearly 60 years was concerned about the sound and the late-night shooting.

“Night shooting – really? This is not a bar – I live there,” said Dr. Shashikarshe.

But even with sound berms and safety assurances, what about the peace of nearby rural residents and the safety of trail riders and horses?

Questions or Comments?

Horse Farms Forever® has issued a Watchdog Alert as we continue to monitor and review this application. Please let us know your questions and/or comments on this pending special use permit.

Email HFF Here!
Read the Application Here!
Watch the 10/26 P&Z Commission Hearing Here!

ATTEND:
Marion County Board of County Commissioners public hearing on Tuesday, November 17th at 2:00 PM at the McPherson Governmental Campus auditorium, 601 SE 25th Ave., Ocala, FL.

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Horse Farms Forever® Mission Statement

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 to minimize land use conflicts in Marion County, Florida.

Horses, horse farms, and the horse industry create the “character and culture” that define Marion County. The aim of Horse Farms Forever® is to raise awareness and education to ensure that this “sense of place” is protected for future generations.

The purpose of Horse Farms Forever® is to be watchful of government and others in actions pertaining to the character and culture that horses and the Farmland Preservation Area make unique to Marion County. That includes strategies to preserve horse farms and pastureland, especially in the Farmland Preservation Area, for future generations.

Horse Farms Forever® is 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.

BREAKING NEWS: Charlotte Weber Files Second Complaint Seeking Permanent Injunction

BREAKING NEWS: Charlotte Weber Files Second Complaint Seeking Permanent Injunction

by | Jul 24, 2026 | News, Watching

 Charlotte Weber has filed a second complaint challenging the Major Site Plan that was approved at the June 22 Development Review Committee (DRC) meeting. The complaint also challenges the building permits that have been issued and seeks a permanent injunction to stop construction.

The complaint was filed on July 22, 2026 and seeks declaratory and injunctive relief against Marion County and Golden Ocala Equestrian Land, LLC. The lawsuit also petitions the court for a writ of certiorari to quash the County’s Major Site Plan that was approved in June for the WEC Polo Field and Facilities.  A jury trial was also “demanded on all issues so triable,” according to the complaint.

There are three main counts in the complaint that address the Major Site Plan and building permits, which were approved even though the legal challenges to the 2026 Pending Approvals are ongoing. The first complaint was filed by Ms. Weber on April 17, 2026. The second complaint seeks a permanent injunction to stop construction. (Read the April complaint.)

In June, Golden Ocala submitted a Major Site Plan to the DRC titled the WEC Polo Field and Facilities. According to the complaint, “it was all a sham.”

“The Major Site Plan and Building Permits align with the sports facilities complex that was the subject of the 2026 Pending Approvals. Golden Ocala intends to proceed with its site construction under the guise that it is the “Polo Field” per the 2020 PUD Rezoning, with plans to quickly pivot and finish off the soccer fields if it is successful on the legal challenges to the 2026 Pending Approvals (which, with appeals, may be several years),” the complaint states.

In fact, as the complaint states, “the electrical lighting permits authorize banks of lights and seating where the separations are between the southern three soccer fields, which would be in the middle of the alleged “Polo Field.” That would certainly be an interesting wrinkle in the sport of polo.”

If this is truly a polo field, why are there banks of lights and seating between what appears to be soccer fields on the site plan? And where are the barns for the horses and the parking for the horse trailers?

Horse Farms Forever is looking forward to reading the answers to these questions in the depositions.

The complaint asks the court to address several items including:

  • Issue a permanent injunction preventing Golden Ocala from developing or constructing the Sports/Entertainment Property in accordance with the Major Site Plan approval and Building Permits, as they violate County zoning regulations.
  • Declare that the Major Site Plan approval and Building Permits are in violation of the 2020 PUD Rezoning.
  • If applicable, issue a Writ of Certiorari, to quash the Major Site Plan approval
  • Award costs and attorneys’ fees, plus interest.
View Part 1 of the Complaint
View Part 2 of the Complaint

Horse Farms Forever is working hard to keep our members up to date about the proposed WEC Sports Complex and other potential threats to the Farmland Preservation Area. Your support makes all the difference!

Please Join Us Today!
View our latest coverage of the WEC Sports Complex

More Breaking News Update! Horse Farms Forever Challenge Puts a Stop to Illegal DRC Waivers for Major Site Plans

More Breaking News Update! Horse Farms Forever Challenge Puts a Stop to Illegal DRC Waivers for Major Site Plans

by | Jun 26, 2026 | News, Ongoing, Watching

Always Alert

The Horse Farms Forever watchdogs actively monitor all applications for development with a special focus on the Farmland Preservation Area. On late Thursday, June 18th, when the County published the Development Review Committee (DRC) agenda for the Monday, June 22nd meeting, the HFF watchdogs spotted something concerning and immediately sprang into action.

David Tillman of Tillman and Associates Engineering, the applicant for the Golden Ocala Equestrian Land WEC Polo Field and Facilities, submitted a waiver request to allow the release of building permits prior to approval of the Major Site Plan.

Early on Monday morning, Horse Farms Forever’s attorney, Matthew Brockway, submitted a formal letter to the County challenging the DRC’s authority to approve the waiver request.

At the DRC meeting, Chuck Varadin, Director of Growth Services, presented Brockway’s letter and asked Assistant County Attorney Linda Blackburn for clarification on the points in the HFF Brockway letter.

“There’s a letter that the Board has and so we’re looking for legal to provide some clarification on that going forward because there are a lot of plan approvals that the letter questions,” said Mr. Varadin.

Be sure to watch the video below of Mr. Varadin’s full comments.

Then, Ms. Blackburn, addressed the DRC, stating that the Development Review Committee did not have the authority to waive major site plans and she referenced the relevant sections of the County’s Land Development Code: Division 10, Waiver Request and Division 21 Major Site Plan.

“I know it has been done in the past, I’ve had consult with Mr. Minter (County Attorney) and Mr. Brockway is absolutely correct,” said Ms. Blackburn. “We are not to sidestep major site plan approval and then allow permits to go forward.”

Be sure to watch both videos below of Ms. Blackburn’s full comments.

The County’s Land Development Code establishes the DRC’s limited authority to grant waivers. The waiver provisions are intended to apply to design and improvement standards, “not the fundamental application, review, and approval procedures and requirements of the LDC,” as Mr. Brockway also states in his letter:

“The DRC lacks the power and authority to grant a waiver to release building permits prior to approval of the Major Site Plan as requested in Item 6.1.”

“Any DRC waiver of this nature is ultra vires and illegal.”

Click Here to Read Matthew Brockway's Letter to the County

Outcome of WEC’s DRC Requests

Golden Ocala had two items on the DRC agenda related to WEC. The first was a request to revert to the 2020 PUD Master Plan for WEC that included a polo field where the 2026 PUD Master Plan showed a sports complex designated for soccer. The 2020 PUD Master Plan was revised to overlay the new WEC Polo Field and Facilities. The DRC unanimously approved the revised 2020 Master Site Plan.

The second agenda item was a waiver request to allow building permits to proceed before Major Site Plan approval for the new WEC Polo Field and Facilities. However, because the Master Site Plan mentioned above was approved, it became unnecessary to seek the waiver, and it was not considered.

LONG-TERM CONCERN

The issue regarding waivers extends far beyond this single application. Mr. Brockway’s letter caused a bit of a stir at the meeting as evidently the DRC has been routinely granting similar waivers for Major Site Plans, allowing building permits to move forward.

These waivers also set a dangerous precedent. The DRC is obligated to apply the Land Development Code as written, not grant waivers outside of their authority.

Discovering this violation of the Land Development Code is one of the main reasons why Horse Farms Forever’s watchdog mission is so important. The vigilance of the HFF watchdogs revealed a pattern of illegal waivers that have been routinely issued by the DRC.

Due to HFF’s objection and the Brockway letter, these waivers have been halted!

Always Alert

Please join our efforts by becoming a member. Your support helps protect our horse farms and equestrian way of life in Marion County.

It takes hundreds of hours to read and review every application for development. Your generous contributions help protect our rural lands, preserve our equine identity, and plan responsibly for the future.

 

Join Us Today!

Knock – Knock… Who’s there? It’s the Trojan Horse.

Knock – Knock… Who’s there? It’s the Trojan Horse.

by | Jun 22, 2026 | News, Ongoing, Watching

WEC Polo Field and Facilities approved by the County. Is it a Trojan horse?

The site plan for the WEC Polo Field and Facilities was approved at the June 22nd Development Review Committee meeting. At first glance, this may look like a victory for the equestrian community – a shiny new polo field riding in to save the day – but much like the legendary Trojan horse, what appears on the outside isn’t the whole story.

While a polo field is planned today, the long-term plan is for soccer fields and other multi-uses.

David Tillman of Tillman and Associates Engineering, the Applicant for Golden Ocala Equestrian Land on the WEC Polo Field and Facilities Waiver Request, confirmed during his public testimony at the Development Review Committee Hearing held on June 22, 2026, that the equestrian-related polo fields were destined to be non-equestrian soccer fields;

Being a “Trojan horse” means appearing harmless, beneficial, or legitimate to gain someone’s trust or access to a secure area, only to unleash harm or subvert them from within. It is a metaphor rooted in the ancient Greek myth of the Trojan War. [Wikipedia]

“Do we plan on using them for soccer if the future PUD gets approved? Absolutely, we will, no question about it . There will be multi-use fields that will get multi-use for a multitude of uses.”

Be sure to watch the whole video below for his full comments.

The “equestrian use” of polo fields sounds interesting, but the real plan is to use the polo fields for soccer and other multi-uses once the Charlotte Weber litigation, which Mr. Tillman described as “unfounded” is resolved.

View the Legal Challenge

The 2020 PUD

With this site plan approval, Golden Ocala can begin construction under the previously approved 2020 Planned Unit Development (PUD). The March 2026 PUD for the Sports Complex is on hold due to the lawsuit.

Due to the restrictions in the 2020 PUD, the use is restricted to polo or a Cross Country course – at least until the courts have their say.

View the 2020 PUD Site Plan
View the Updated Site Plan

Always Alert

The Horse Farms Forever watchdogs are actively monitoring this waiver request and we will keep our members updated!

Your generous contributions help protect our rural lands, preserve our equine identity, and plan responsibly for the future.

 

Join Us Today!

BREAKING NEWS – WEC Applies to Replace Soccer Fields with Polo Fields!

BREAKING NEWS – WEC Applies to Replace Soccer Fields with Polo Fields!

by | Jun 20, 2026 | News, Watching

Marco? Polo!
Or is this a Trojan Horse? 

Golden Ocala wants to swap soccer fields for polo fields at the WEC Sports Complex. They are requesting a waiver to allow release of building permits prior to approval of the Major Site Plan at the June 22 Development Review Committee meeting.

After being relabeled from soccer fields to polo fields, Growth Services determined the plan could move forward under Golden Ocala’s existing 2020 PUD approval.

The proposed “WEC Polo Field and Facilities” site plan looks very similar to the soccer fields that were approved in March 2026 as part of the Sports Complex, which is currently facing administrative and legal challenges.

View the Legal Challenge
View Our Letter of Objection

See the site plans below for the March 2026 soccer fields and the proposed June 2026 polo fields. 

These are the original Overall Site Plans submitted showing soccer fields.

Three of the soccer fields have been combined for the main polo field, in the shaded area along HWY 40. 

The top two rows of the previous 8 soccer fields are now for training, according to the Growth Services staff report.

To the Horse Farm Forever watchdogs, there sure seems to be a lot of similarity.  This is especially interesting since a typical regulation polo field is 3 times larger than a regulation soccer field!

Maybe there is a different regulation size polo field for trojan horses? 

Polo Fields are 3 Times Larger

  • Polo Fields have an overall length of 300 yard and width of 160 yards for a total area of 432,000 ft²
  • FIFA rules dictate a precise size of 110 to 120 yards long by 70 to 80 yards wide for a total area of approximately 76,823 ft² for a professional Soccer Field.

No Horse Barns for Trojan Horses?

The soccer fields have become polo fields, so where are the horse barns? It seems as though Trojan horses don’t need a stall, as there are no horse barns. Also, where is the parking lot for all the horse trailers?

Land Use Limited to Equestrian Estates

Concerns have also been raised regarding land-use restrictions tied to this property – now proposed for polo fields – which limits the land use to low residential “Equestrian Estates.”

In 2017, approximately 1,000 acres were removed from the Farmland Preservation Area to allow for the World Equestrian Center. That approval was based on a Development Agreement: these estates would serve as a buffer between the World Equestrian Center and the new boundary of the Farmland Preservation Area, and Equestrian Estates are the only allowed use. 

 

Perhaps we should all ask Growth Services, why the site plan with polo fields doesn’t have barns for the horses or parking for the horse trailers?

Contact Growth Services

The waiver request for the building permits will be heard by the Development Review Committee (DRC) at 9:00 AM on Monday, June 22.

DRC Agenda - See Items 5.4 and 6.1

Always Alert

The Horse Farms Forever watchdogs are actively monitoring this waiver request and we will keep our members updated!

Your generous contributions help protect our rural lands, preserve our equine identity, and plan responsibly for the future.

 

Join Us Today!

Dizney Double Diamond Development

Dizney Double Diamond Development

by | Feb 3, 2025 | News, Watching

Dizney Double Diamond Development

The Horse Farms Forever watchdogs have been alerted to a potential threat to the Farmland Preservation Area. It is our understanding that the Dizney Double Diamond organization is in discussions with the County to develop portions of their Double Diamond Farm bordering on Highway 40, and especially at the intersection with SE 80th Ave.

View Dizney Double Diamond Maps

The Dizney family, headed by patriarch Donald R. Dizney, the founder of United Medical Corporation, are longtime owners of the Double Diamond Farm in northwest Ocala. The original farm was acquired in the early 1980’s and today totals over 500 acres on about 20 parcels. Mr. Dizney and Double Diamond Farm are well-known and highly regarded in the thoroughbred horse community. https://www.doublediamondfarm.com/

While the overwhelming majority of the Double Diamond Farm is inside the Farmland Preservation Area with Future Land Use of Rural and Zoning of Agricultural, there is one 31.78-acre parcel (21084-000-00) at the corner of Highway 40 and SW 80th Ave that has split Future Land Use and Zoning. Linked are a group of maps to help better visualize the parcel.

Dizney Double Diamond LLC owns a 31.78-acre parcel (21084-000-00) at the corner of Highway 40 and SW 80th Ave that has unusual split Future Land Use and Zoning. On that specific 31.78-acre parcel, 19.5-acres is within the Urban Growth Boundary, has a Future Land Use of Commercial and a Zoning classification of Community Business. Thus, the 19.5-acres can be commercially developed under its current Land Use, Zoning and Boundary.

  • On this unique parcel, a 19.5-acre portion is inside the Urban Growth Boundary and the remaining 12.28-acres are inside the Farmland Preservation Area

  • The 19.5-acre portion of the parcel has a Future Land Use of Commercial while the remaining 12.28-acres has a Future Land Use of Rural.

  • The 19.5 -acre portion of the parcel has a Zoning Classification of Community Business (B-2) classification, which is intended to provide for the shopping and limited-service needs of several neighborhoods, a community, or a substantial land area. The remaining 12.29-acre portion of the parcel has a Zoning Classification of Agricultural.

In addition, Dizney Double Diamond owns 2 parcels to the west of this unique parcel. While these 2 parcels have Future Land Use of Rural, a portion of each parcel has legacy Zoning of Community Business B-2. There are hundreds of parcels in the county with a Future Land Use of Rural and legacy zoning of Community Business B-2. The county labels these parcels as inconsistent. This inconsistency dates back decades when the Comprehensive Plan was first implemented. The Board of County Commissioners has been dealing with the inconsistent land use and zoning on these legacy parcels on a case-by-case basis.

It is our understanding that the Dizney Double Diamond organization is in discussions with the County to develop portions of their farm bordering on Highway 40 into commercial development. If this is correct, and this effort would expand beyond the 19.5-acre portion of the parcel at the corner of Highway 40 and SW 80th Ave, then an application for a Future Land Use change and Zoning change would be required. As with most large commercial developments, this often involves a Planned Unit Development application and Master Plan.

Horse Farms Forever will continue to monitor this activity closely. As part of that monitoring, we have made a public records request from the county to get facts ahead of any potential application to allow time to review and understand a plan.