The Community Showed Up
Thank you to everyone who showed up at last night’s Planning and Zoning Commission meeting. The room was past capacity with a rotating line of speakers waiting patiently outside to be heard. Busy Shires Byerly, our Director of Conservation Strategies, spoke for Horse Farms Forever. Here are her comments.
After 3 hours of respectful and insightful public commentary on both sides of the issue, the Planning & Zoning Commission voted as follows:
- By a vote of 3 to 2, they recommended that the Board of County Commissioners deny in its entirety the proposed Comprehensive Plan Amendment to change the Future Land Use designation on 18.2 acres from Rural Land (RL) to Rural Activity Center (RAC). This was contrary to the recommendation of Growth Services staff.
- They unanimously recommended that the Board of County Commissioners approve the proposed Rezoning of the approximately 5 acres having an existing Future Land Use Designation of Rural Activity Center (RAC). This was consistent with the recommendation of Growth Services staff. They unanimously recommended denial of the remainder of the proposed Rezoning, which is the opposite of the recommendation of Growth Services staff.
- By a vote of 3 to 2, they recommended that the Board of County Commissioners deny in its entirety the request for a Special Use Permit on 239 acres for an ATV racetrack and associated uses and activities. This was contrary to the recommendation of Growth Services staff.
The Board stated that a key factor influencing their decision was the fact that the subject property is IN THE FARMLAND PRESERVATION AREA. We are happy that this message was heard loud and clear.
These non-binding recommendations now go before the Board of County Commissioners on June 17th. As was stated many times last night, this Planning & Zoning meeting was a dress rehearsal. Community voices are even more important at the next meeting. We will be preparing to advocate clearly for the protection of farmland, environment and community character.
Thank you for joining us last night and please plan to come to the June 17th meeting, 2pm.
It's Not About ATVs. It's About Location.
We at Horse Farms Forever like ATVs. Many of us own and enjoy them. We support family-oriented outdoor recreation, just like the Double Gate ATV Park applicants. Our concern continues to be about the location of the subject property:
- in the Farmland Preservation Area;
- in a flood zone and spring protection area;
- in a peaceful residential area where noise will be a factor.
Our message continues to be the same as our mission:
We ask that the Farmland Preservation Area be respected and protected. Once it's erased, it can't be replaced.
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.
Join the herd. Every voice matters.
Footage of Double Gate ATV Park Sound Test on May 16th:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MO2up_SBxFI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rpTAkLoxcbg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJ-IzB24CcI
At the Zoning Hearing Mr. Tillman said “we do not intend on tearing up the land” and told the story of how Hogwaller used to be a nice place when it was first built, with the same types of riding trails that they intend on building in Flemington. We all know how that turned out…
Exactly! Once the have the permit…nothing is stopping it from becoming like Hogwaller,and it sets a precedent for more “Preserved Farmland” to be used for various purposes. Let’s keep some of our land in peace.
They said “why does it matter, everyone at the horse farms already ride their ATVs on their own property and don’t care about the noise.” Yeah, we have maybe a few dozen machines at the most, but not 500-750 machines coming in and out loaded on large trucks and trailers going up and down 329.
The noise from the ATVs is secondary to the amount of traffic this will cause on 329 and 318 in front of many residential properties. The traffic was ridiculous the day they rode their sound test on May 16th. This type of event attracts people who come to PLAY. They don’t care about the surrounding area and the established community, they come to have fun and have a good time with their buddies riding their ATVs without a care in the world about the surrounding communities and established horse farms. It’s not as if they’re trying to build a church, the types of people these types of events attract will ruin the integrity of the quiet community in the Farmland Preservation Area. This is the complete opposite of what belongs in Flemington.
I pray the commissioners see this careless and reckless proposal for what it is and for the commissioners to understand that not only is this is being proposed in the heart of the Marion County Farmland Preservation Area, it is not compatible with the surrounding community and it will have an adverse impact on the established residents, churches, and farms.
Here’s an article written about Flemington in the Ocala Star Banner in 2015:
https://www.ocala.com/article/LK/20150712/news/604145288/OS
Congratulations. You all are doing a fantastic job staying ahead of and on top of all the threats against our farm preservation areas.
Thank you for watching out for the future of farm lands.
God bless you.
Very nice work. Thank you for rallying us all and keeping us informed.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WORKING SO HARD TO PRESERVE ONE OF THE LAST MOST BEAUTIFUL AREAS IN FLORIDA. WE MOVED TO MARION COUNTY FOR JUST THAT REASON. KEEP FIGHTING TO PRESERVE IT FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. AGAIN, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU
Well done, HORSEFARMSFOREVER. THANK YOU.
Our horse farm is very close to this area and I am writing our County Commissioners today. The Marion County Farmland Preservation Area needs to be protected and respected.
We live in Ocala and attend church at Flemington Baptist church. We travel on 329 to get to church. It is such a beautiful and peaceful ride to get there. We used to live at Grand Lake RV Park and I used to shop in Williston. I chose to shop there because of the beautiful drive to get to Williston on 318. That is such beautiful country and I can’t imagine it being ruined by this racetrack. Surely there is a better place to build it. The noise and the traffic would be unbearable