The irreplaceable destination of Marion County with its open spaces and beautiful places continues to be where successful equine businesses are born. Look around and you will see many “golden eggs” from breeding and training farms to event facilities, suppliers, real estate firms, and on and on. These businesses generate jobs and feed the enthusiasm that brands us as the Horse Capital of the World®. Golden Ocala and the World Equestrian Center are a big part of Ocala’s future.
To the Roberts family – Horse Farms Forever graciously thanks you for your enormous investment in Ocala/Marion County. In the decades to come, your vision to build the World Equestrian Center will dramatically impact this community in many positive ways. It will be a significant driver of the economy and will cement our region’s global brand as the Horse Capital of the World®. THANK YOU!
We also thank Golden Ocala for being a Founding member of Horse Farms Forever and appreciate their support of our mission. It’s important to remember that we are all here, Golden Ocala and the World Equestrian Center included, because of the land. Without it, this point on the map is nothing special. Our county had the foresight to recognize that and create the Farmland Preservation Area 15 years ago.
It is unfortunate that we find ourselves in a disagreement with one of our Founding members. The Golden Ocala-World Equestrian Center Amendment to the Comprehensive Plan contains two areas of concern that impact the Farmland Preservation Area: Map Area 1 that seeks to move the boundary line of the Farmland Preservation Area on 118 acres of farmland, and Map Area 8 where the Amendment seeks to invade 157 acres of farmland inside the Farmland Preservation Area with up to 78 acres of undefined commercial development. In proportion to the complete Amendment, these Areas 1 and 8, are small and geographically isolated from the rest of the Complex.
True to our mission, we must stand firm in protecting the integrity of the Farmland Preservation Area. If we allow an erosion of its boundaries, we all stand to lose the very thing that makes our area unique. Our members entrusted us with this mission. It is our duty to remain vigilant and proactive.
With the exception of these two areas of concern, just 6% of roughly 4,200 acres, Horse Farms Forever offers its full support for approval of the GO-WEC Amendment to the Comprehensive Plan.
We respectfully urge the Roberts organization to withdraw Areas 1 and 8 from the Amendment. These areas can still be developed with appropriate limitations through other options in the planning process. Right now, they are a distraction that galvanizes community opposition. Withdrawal would help to unify the equestrian community’s support and excitement for the tremendous contribution of vision and insight that the Roberts organization brings to Ocala/Marion County.
