Today’s Zoning and Planning meeting at 5:30pm is the first of two public hearings where the community can voice their concerns about the Golden Ocala-World Equestrian development plans. Horse Farms Forever’s Director of Conservation Strategies, Busy Shires Byerly, will be speaking on behalf of our members. Here is a transcript of her remarks:
Good Evening Chair and Commissioners:
The focus of Horse Farms Forever is the conservation of Marion County’s horse farms and the Farmland Preservation Area to ensure this sense of place is protected to protect the vibrant horse industry, which contributes over $2.6 billion to the county’s economy and employs more than 20,000 people. Ocala is the Horse Capital of the World and the Farmland Preservation Area is protecting the global brand and identity of Marion County.
I am representing the Board of Directors for Horse Farms Forever, which is comprised of some of the largest landowners in Marion County. I am here to speak about our concerns with two of the land use amendments for the Golden Ocala – World Equestrian Center’s DRI that are located inside the Farmland Preservation Area boundary.
Horse Farms Forever agrees that the World Equestrian Center will bring vitality to our horse industry and economy. And with this kind of growth — if managed well – it will enhance our quality of life.
However, there are TWO amendments that threaten the integrity of the Farmland Preservation Area.
ONE request will create a new land use category called WEC to allow undefined commercial development inside the Farmland Preservation Area boundary.
The new WEC land use category is anything but rural. It’s like a Trojan Horse – it sounds and looks good, but if approved, it will invade the Farmland Preservation Area with intensive, undefined commercial use. This category would allow up to 50% Floor Area Ratio of – once again – undefined – commercial development. This means that for the 157-acre parcel, up to HALF – of the land could be allocated to commercial – that’s potentially 75 acres of commercial development in a rural area. This violates the comprehensive plan in several policies, including Policy 1.1.1: Marion County Planning Principles, Policy 3.1.4 Rural Area Outside of the UGB and Objective 3.3.3 Farmland Preservation Area.
It’s importance to note that – already existing in the comprehensive plan and by right – the World Equestrian Center can have limited commercial use in the Farmland Preservation Area to accommodate the concession stands for the proposed polo fields or horse show grounds. This is accomplished through the PUD amendment process and is THE appropriate way to accommodate limited commercial activity and protect the integrity of the Farmland Preservation Area.
Horse Farms Forever strongly urges Golden-Ocala World Equestrian Center to withdraw this request and instead use the PUD amendment process.
The SECOND concern is moving the boundary of the Farmland Preservation Area on recently purchased property on Highway 225A that is neither adjacent to the Golden Ocala development nor the World Equestrian Center. This request to remove 118 acres from the Farmland Preservation Area is inconsistent with the Comprehensive Plan, which states in Objective 3.3 that the Farmland Preservation Area is “intended to encourage preservation of agriculture….The County establishes this area as critical to the enhancement and preservation of its designation as the Horse Capital of the World.”
The Farmland Preservation Area boundary must be respected and protected.
Horse Farms Forever’s mission is to preserve the character and culture that horses, horse farms and the Farmland Preservation Area bring to Marion County — as it grows.
We support planned growth for our community. Ad hoc expansions are not planned growth. Urban growth becomes urban sprawl when the Comprehensive Plan is subject to change with every developer request.
We urge Golden Ocala-World Equestrian Center to RECONSIDER their land use amendments to invade the Farmland Preservation Area.
The Farmland Preservation Area boundary should be etched in stone, not with a developer’s pencil and eraser.
Once it’s erased, it can never be replaced.
Add Your Voice to Today's Meeting
May 11, 2020
5:30 pm
McPherson Governmental Campus Auditorium
601 SE 25th Ave., Ocala
In anticipation of a large crowd, the County has made a plan which provides several ways to participate, in person, digitally and over the phone.
Be there and be counted!
Add This to Your Calendar:
Board of County Commissioners
May 28, 2pm.
McPherson Governmental Campus Auditorium, 601 SE 25th Ave., Ocala
Always Watching
We work hard to keep you informed, and to represent our members' interests in preserving our horse farms, farmland and the unique character and culture of Marion County's 193,000 acre Farmland Preservation Area.
Join the herd. Every voice matters.
I am in wholehearted agreement with the remarks of Horse Farms Forever at today’s meeting.
If we in Marion County do not respect the intent of the Farmland Preservation initiative and land uses, how do we expect those outside of Marion County to do so? The long term vision of the Farmland Preservation Area must be protected – not breached by the two, proposed amendments that would bring about an ill conceived, radical change in direction. Part of what drew us all to the Ocala area was the broad swath of rural area that is increasingly unique in our state, This valuable resource, if squandered. could not be replaced.
Thank you for standing up to big money for us all! As owner of a small horse farm operation in the area who would benefit from the increased equine exposure the WEC would bring to the area, I am excited about the WEC, but they should be respectful of the Preservation Area and figure out a way to operate without chipping away at the FPA. This would just open the flood gates to development, which is what Florida really needs less of. And if this goes through, it also might be more justification for the dreaded Suncoast Parkway extension, which absolutely must be stopped!
Thank you for the preservation efforts as a neighbor who enjoys the beauty of the farmland and magnificent trees I am sad we are loosing the views of the corner of 27 & 225 A I count on you to save the rest!
I appreciate the efforts to make the equestrian center the best for Ocala however we might be suffering a case of too much of a good thing and kill the golden goose which is the farmland that surrounds Ocala. Sure there is plenty one may think but actually there isn’t and it’s up to influential persons to maintain what there is. The developments also gain because large tracts of farmland and gran daddy oaks surrounding homes are more valuable than one large house next to the other for that reason large farms are expensive. In the past trees and larger yards made for better neighborhoods which today are valued higher. We are in a unique position to influence the future of housing in Ocala. If the new parcels are in farmland protection area, there is an easy solution; develop and sell 10 acre farms!