The Marion County Board of Commissioners meets today, June 17th at 2pm at the McPherson Governmental Campus Auditorium, 601 SE 25th Ave., Ocala, to consider adoption of the Blitch Plantation (Rudianyn) proposal for Double Gate ATV Park and Recreation. Here is the agenda and full application.
How to Attend and Comment
Attend in Person:
The County will have social distancing practices in place. It would be wise to bring a face mask and expect seating to be limited and spaced out in the auditorium. There will be provision for those who are waiting to come in to watch the meeting outside on screen. As comments are made, speakers will be asked to leave the auditorium so that others wishing to speak can come in.
When public comment is opened, walk to the front of the auditorium and stand at either speaker’s lectern to be recognized by the board. The lecterns will be sanitized in between speakers. Give your name and address and indicate who you represent. If you are distributing additional back-up material, please provide the county administrator with 10 copies prior to the beginning of the commission meeting. You will have exactly 2 minutes to speak. Be prepared – you will not be given extra time unless the Board asks you a question. Make sure what you have to say adds a new perspective or new information to the Hearing – if you wish to echo another’s comments, simply say “I agree with…” and move on to something non-repetitive.
Watch the Meeting Online:
Go to this page. Today’s meeting is the first one on the list. You will see the Agenda link in blue. About 5 minutes before the meeting, a second link will appear next to the Agenda. Click that link to join the live stream video of the meeting via WebEx with your computer or mobile device.
This page provides further instructions on how to operate the live stream controls. If you wish to speak, you can use the raise hand icon in the participants panel on your screen and the moderator will call on you during the public comment period. When you speak, be sure to turn the volume down on your video player so that we can hear you free of feedback. Connectivity-related questions? Contact the IT Helpdesk, 352-671-8801.
Call In to Listen and Comment:
The number is 352-671-8808. If you wish to speak, press *9. The moderator will see your request and connect you when it is your turn. Please call from a quiet location and do not use speakerphone.
Public comment-related questions? Dawn Phelps, dawn.phelps@marioncountyfl.org, 352-438-2327.
Further assistance? Any person with a disability requiring assistance, auxiliary aids, and services county government meetings may notify the human resources director: Amanda Tart, amanda.tart@marioncountyfl.org, 352-438-2345.
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.
For the last month I have viewed many videos and photos of people enjoying themselves at many of our already existing ATV parks. There isn’t a shortage of them in Marion County.
I live 55 minutes from my job. 45 minutes from child care. 30 minutes from a Publix or CVS…
I don’t have an indoor rowing studio across the street?!? How about a salon or restaurant?!?! A gym?!? Hardware store?!? I live in paradise… and choose to live here even though there can be some inconvenience. It’s worth it.
I would love to move into town and slap a cow in the front yard, a chicken coup and a noisy donkey in the back yard. Park a camper on the side of my house and start up a lemonade stand at my mailbox. IT WONT HAPPEN! It wouldn’t even make it to a vote….
How do we join Horse Farms Forever?
There’s a Join button on the home page of our website. We welcome you!
Dear Commissioner Michelle Stone:
I respectfully request that you oppose and deny in their entirety:
1. Comprehensive Plan Amendment 20-L05 submitted by Blitch Plantation, LTD to amend the future land use designation from Rural Land to Rural Activity Center for 18.2 acres.
2. Application 200507Z to rezone 18.2 acres from Rural Land to Rural Activity Center; and
3. Application 200508SU to permit ATV racetrack with ancillary recreational uses, limited ATV sales and repair, RV Park, and event venue requested as a Special Use Permit in RAC and A-1 Zoning Districts.
As a former member of the Citizen’s advisory board for several years, I observed Mr. Rudianyn’s actions did not reflect the interests of the community. No, it appeared his motive was self-serving on how can I manipulate the roads for my private clients. Specifically, clients that I can financially befit from this activity. Examples are of getting landlocked or rural lands to become more valuable with the addition of public funds for road development.
Was the community reimbursed for the use of the road-building activity that he benefitted from? As a member, I often wondered whether it was ethically sound that a person’s position should not be tied to personal financial gain. I remember at one point there was a proposal of lets strip all sidewalks and bike trails from the FDOT funding and only put it into the roads. Fortunately, the FDOT informed him that that was not an option for the public funds. Another example is had HOPS (Historic Ocala Preservation Society) not formed and stopped the proposed road project of extending 8th Avenue from going south to 17th Street and widening of Fort King Street. Ocala would not have a National Designated Historic District if that road project was allowed to proceed.
This ATV park proposal is another example of Mr. Rudianyn & his company and his client to simply using Mr. Rudianyn’s influence to gain personal financial gain
My right to swing my fist ends where your nose begins.
“Is not this a free country?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Have not I a right to swing my arm?”
“Yes, but your right to swing your arm leaves off where my right not to have my nose struck begins.”
Here civil government comes in to prevent bloodshed, adjust rights, and settle disputes.
Quote by President Abe Lincoln on the explanation of rights.
Clearly, the ATV park proposed changes is an arm swing affects everyone’s nose in the county. 1. The nose is affected by the toxic smells of oil and gasoline. 2. Ears are assaulted with the loud noise that affects the nearby homes and farms and spooks horses in the surrounding community. 3. The deterioration of the drinking water and of the world-renowned Silver Springs would adversely affect ego tourism 4. The congestion of the roadways paid for with public funds. 5. The deterioration of The Horse Capital of the World.
The on Hold recording to an incoming caller to our county commission office is it promotes Marion County as “Welcome to the Horse Capital of the World.”
If you choose for approval Please change your motto for our County and make it say “Developer’s Capitol of the World”
As a Realtor, it is noted that the Orlando Disney world folks are now trying to run from the mega mess and the congestion of Orlando to come to a rural place. Nationwide with COVID19 many people are leaving the Rat Race of the big Cities and seeking the tranquil rural safe spacing area. Please leave the rural quiet enjoyment of our community the tranquility place it is and not add to the deterioration of this precious place.
There have been no impact studies on this development. If an ATV camp is to be successful there needs to be traffic. Where are the traffic studies? I don’t want to pay for these developers’ needed road work. COVID19 will impact the county budget. Next, you will be asking me the taxpayer for a tax increase to pay for a developer’s new road? Really?
Because once it is lost it can never be recovered. The best words to a spoiled child can learn is “NO”. Thank you for your time, wisdom and logical votes.
Sincerely,
Carolyn Torrey
1202 SE 14th Avenue
Ocala, FL 34471
“Farmland Preservation” sign is just west of this proposed land use change area. If this is designated for such, how can we even consider the above change? Please keep this area preserved from businesses which create much noise, traffic, and pollution. This is quite the opposite of what everyone is trying to preserve.