The Amendment proposes changes to the original Development Agreement. It outlined several infrastructure improvements and other infrastructure needs. The meeting was the continuation of the first public hearing for the Development Agreement Amendment. The second public hearing will be held on Wednesday, December 16, 2020 at 2:00 PM. The public hearing for the proposed changes to the Golden Ocala Comprehensive Plan Amendment (20-D01) and PUD Rezoning Amendment (20200201Z) applications will also be held on December 16.
The Comprehensive Plan Amendment and PUD Rezoning Amendment, which has not yet been approved, includes a request to add about 1,000 acres for a total area of about 4,200 acres. In addition, the commercial space would increase to 4 million square feet – up from 525,000 square feet in the 2018 original plan. Hotel rooms would increase to 1,350, up from 385 and seating at the equestrian venues also would increase from 10,000 seats to 13,500 seats. The number of homes remains at just below 2,400, however RV spaces would increase from 200 to 280 spaces.
Key issues discussed:
- Building a new water treatment facility plant and wells within the project site.
- GO-WEC will purchase a new fire truck for $1.3M with a ladder tall enough for the five-story hotel. The county will repay GO-WEC over several years.
- GO-WEC will construct the entrance improvements to:
- NW 80th Avenue at NW 21st Street.
- NW 80th Avenue at the entrance to the WEC parking lot.
- SR 40 Entrance Improvements and Driveway Improvements
- Four-laning of NW 80th
- GO-WEC will conduct a new traffic study once WEC is open to determine if there are additional roadway and intersection improvements needed. There is a traffic study from 2017/2018. In addition, additional traffic studies will be conducted by GO-WEC as they reach certain build out points and once GO-WEC begins building on the parcels north of US Hwy 27.
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Was the increase in hotel rooms and the huge increase requested for commercial space discussed ? What about the water plant issue?
A new Regional Water Treatment Plant and additional wells for drinking water will be constructed. The Proportionate Share Mitigation costs and Impact Fee credits for GO-WEC are still being negotiated.
The increase in hotel rooms and commercial space was discussed at the October 2020 meeting. A new Regional Water Treatment Plant and additional wells for drinking water will be constructed. The Proportionate Share Mitigation costs and Impact Fee credits for GO-WEC are still being negotiated.
What about the water issues?
Thank you for this concise report.
A new Regional Water Treatment Plant and additional wells for drinking water will be constructed. The Proportionate Share Mitigation costs and Impact Fee credits for GO-WEC are still being negotiated.
I think this is outstanding, bringing jobs to Ocala!!!!
Is that square footage correct on commercial space- 4,000,000?
Yes, 4,000,000 square feet of commercial space. See page 13 of the agenda packet: https://marionfl.legistar1.com/marionfl/meetings/2020/11/1080_PA_Board_of_County_Commissioners_Public_Hearing_Meeting_20-11-04_Meeting_Agenda.pdf?id=e6c48668-d085-4e2b-b76c-2da8a87806d9
Seems a huge increase in development from original plan.
STOP THE AMENDMENTS AND ZONING CHANGES AND MODIFICATIONS AND BUILDING. WE ALREADY FOUGHT ENOUGH HERE IN NW MARION COUNTY. WE HAVE TO BE AT THE COMMISSIONER’S HEARING 24/7 365 OR ELSE THEY WILL SLIP ONE BY THE TAXPAYERS OF MARION COUNTY. DEVELOPERS YOU ARE NOT WELCOME HERE. LEAVE THE PEACEFUL HORSE COMMUNITY OF MARION COUNTY ALONE.
I predict 80th Avenue will first be 4 laned. Then GO-WEC will construct a road to swing North from 80th Ave. to tie
Into the new 90th Avenue road they have already constructed,
This is really an extension of 90th Avenue across Hwy 27 into the GO-WEC complex. Next will be request to 4 lane 90th Avenue going North to tie into County Road 326 up North. It’s ironic, because this is exactly what the proposed cross connector route would have been!
Road 326 then-ties into Interstate 75, Hwy 441, and so on. Stay tuned.
Thanks for this comment, Mr. Bowers. I was not in favor of the cross connector, and I, too, think it’s ironic that this scenario appears to be just another way to defeat all of the many horse farm people who do NOT want to have a cross-connector through our beautiful horse country. It’s sort of a slippery way of doing things, akin to politics these days.