Horse Farms Forever Urges Golden Ocala-World Equestrian Center To Reconsider Land Use Amendments in the Farmland Preservation Area
May 2020
Horses, horse farms and the horse industry create the character and culture that define Marion County. The vision and mission of Horse Farms Forever is to ensure this sense of place is protected for future generations.
Horse Farms Forever is a strong supporter of all things equestrian and especially the Farmland Preservation Area located in northwest Marion County. The World Equestrian Center promises to bring vitality to our horse industry and economy. This kind of growth, if managed well, will enhance the quality of life in the Horse Capital of the World.
Unfortunately, Golden Ocala/World Equestrian Center (GO-WEC) has requested two land use amendments to change the Comprehensive Plan that threaten the integrity of the Farmland Preservation Area (FPA), which is core to our mission. The Farmland Preservation Area was created in 2005 by the Marion County Commission to protect the land for agriculture and the vibrant horse industry, which contributes over $2.6 billion to the county’s economy and employs more than 20,000 people.
GO-WEC is requesting two significant changes to their Development of Regional Impact to accommodate more commercial and residential development within the FPA. One request will create a new land use category called WEC Rural to allow undefined commercial development inside the FPA. The second request is to move the boundary of the FPA on several parcels that are not adjacent to either the Golden Ocala development or the World Equestrian Center.
New Land Use Category: WEC Rural
Although the name is WEC Rural, it is anything but rural. If approved, this undefined commercial use will be like a Trojan horse, invading the Farmland Preservation Area by setting a precedent for future commercial land use and zoning decisions. There will be significant unintended consequences by allowing the WEC Rural land use in the FPA.
The WEC Rural Land Use designation seeks to allow commercial uses in the FPA without limitation other than floor area ratio, which is inconsistent with the Comprehensive Plan for the Farmland Preservation Area and the Rural Lands. This means that if the 157 acres located west of NW 100th Avenue were designated WEC Rural, over 75 acres could be developed as hotels, grocery stores, gas stations and shopping centers. These parcels are far from the main areas of GO-WEC, which already have significant commercial acreage.
There are numerous options open to GO-WEC under their Planned Unit Development for limited commercial development while still protecting the integrity of the FPA. We urge them to withdraw this request and instead pursue those more controlled options.
Moving the Boundary of the Farmland Preservation Area
GO-WEC has requested to move the boundary of the Farmland Preservation Area on recently acquired acreage 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 FPA 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 should be etched in stone, not with a developer’s pencil and eraser.
Horse Farms Forever’s mission is to preserve the character and culture that horses, horse farms and the Farmland Preservation Area make unique to Marion County … as it grows. We support planned growth for our community, but urban growth becomes urban sprawl when the Comprehensive Plan is subject to change with every developer request. The county’s Farmland Preservation Area boundary must be respected and protected.
We urge Golden Ocala-World Equestrian Center to reconsider their requests to invade the Farmland Preservation Area with undefined commercial development in one area and to move the Farmland Preservation Area boundary in another area.
The Board of Directors
Horse Farms Forever
Get Involved
There will be 2 hearings on this matter and they’re coming up! You can call in comments, attend online, or attend in person. Go here for details on how to connect to each meeting. Both are held at McPherson Auditorium, 601 SE 25th Ave., Ocala.
- May 11, 5:30pm, Zoning and Planning: Call in Instructions
- May 28, 2:00pm, Board of County Commissioners
This 157 acres located west of NW 100th Ave. is proposed to be rezoned as WEC Rural, with commercial development allowed.
On this 118 acres on Highway 225A, GO-WEC is asking to move the FPA boundary so that all of the yellow shaded property is within the Urban Growth Area.
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.
Protect the FPA as conceptualized.
These proposals by GO-WEC are breathtaking examples of hubris and the influence of money without regard to community best interests.
All of Marion County benefits from the preservation of farmland. Only a few will be enriched by this commercial development.
I agree that the Farmland Preservation should remain as is and protected. We don’t need another Wellington here. I can appreciate what having such a comprehensive equestrian facility will do for the horse industry but that doesn’t mean it’s entitled to spread further commerce on designated farmland. There are other families and farms in Marion County and the wishes of those residents should be considered and respected. I strongly second the request made to GO-WEC to withdraw their application and live with what has been allowed them.
I just received this email today, May 7th. We need to stop this! They already have taken enough land for WEC and commercial, residential development. Obviously it is past the May 5th meeting but I will attend on May 28th!
You finally get it. Golden Ocala/WEC is the FPA’s trojan horse. From its inception WEC has been a grossly over-sized “equine” facility, incapable of sustaining itself. Equestrian Estate Lots, hotels, and commercial were added on to justify the facility economically. But this will never work. Extensive residential development out into the FPA will be next in a desperate effort this time to justify the commercial. WEC is simply not Wellington.
The irony is that the Covid 19 pandemic is likely to make Golden Ocala/WED obsolete even before it opens. Large entertainment and commercial venues will be the very last to open up, if they open up at all. Tell the County Commissioners to say NO to more of this nonsense. Protect the FPA!
How unfortunate to have the visions of Mr Roberts go unchecked by the Marion County Commission.This is what happens when his power influences the decision making process of the unforeseen future.Yet, the commission has always insisted that they have the best comprehensive land plan for horse farm owners. That is furthest from the truth. The deterioration of the equine industry has been caused by many factors,especially during these economic hardships that we face today. Mr Roberts has created a vacuum cleaner for the equine industry by building his multi million dollar complex.All that we can do is sit around and watch it grow The small farm owners are being blindsided by progress. Some people who own and enjoy equine activities are going to find it very difficult to compete with these people who have visions of success in their mind.Protecting physical changing of horse farms to commercial properties is becoming more likely every year.Your intentions are admirable,but its too late to save our land.
Since they have unlimited funds they should acquire Ocala park estate houses and transform it in to 5 AC ranch subdivision that will decrease density
In exchange for increasing density in other farm area
Now they will have east and west side of HWY 225 A and a lot less traffic on that very busy part of the road, and it will also increase the value for his west side of 225 A
The beauty of Marion co. Is its topography hills,oaks,and beautiful farms and uniqueness from the rest of Florida with it being the horse capital of the world and i believe that is why it should be forever preserved as the farms of Marion co.
I am against moving the boundaries. This is Ocala not West Palm Beach/Wellington. This is true horse country. What they have done to the beautiful land that was Palm Beach area is criminal. No grazing space for horses, farms with 2o horses on three acres, traffic that is bumper to bumper and strip malls everywhere. We must stop this foolishness in the Horse Capital. Roberts is obviously not a horse person with his tiny mini-farms and show stables with no fresh air. Horses get sick when imprisoned in airconditioned barns. NO, NO, NO!!!!
This is concerning! I noticed the signs a few weeks ago indicating a change on 225A. I stand firm with the Horse Farms Forever group. As a resident and horse person, I am deeply disturbed by any invasion of Marion County’s preserved agricultural lands. If one group is allowed a variance, then there is no defense from others.
I, too, am excited about the WEC, and all it has to offer, but it needs to meet the needs and traditions of this community first. Please WEC owners, how much do you really need?
I moved into the area for the horse farms, and open pastures, and beauty. OCALA would never be the same if we don’t preserve that spectacular and rare and irreplaceable area!
Please stop World Equestrian centers development plans
So glad to see a proactive group addressing this. Farmland lost is farmland lost forever. We watched development in Virginia and the way it ruined the countryside before preservation groups realized the consequences. By that time it was too little too late in many instances especially northern Virginia.
I agree 100% with your position. I find it incomprehensible that the World Equistrian Center would put forth this intense commercial development proposal. It is not compatible with the character and needs of the Horse Capital of the World.
thanks
I saw this coming.
I live off County Road 318, and the farmland preservation area and into thousand and five or six the County commission let a monastery move in right next-door to me put up a church, install a graveyard, just ridiculous stuff that was not in the comprehensive plan or a part of farmland preservation. I was one little 10 acre person and I lost. Please keep up the fight, don’t lose this one. Thank you
I seek to learn more about this issue. Unfortunately, I have a conflict for May 11th meeting. I will be able to attend or receive “instructions” to log in virtually/digitally for the May 28, 2020 meeting. Please email that information for May 28th, as well as any recorded minutes/updates from today’s May 11th meeting, to the email address below. Thank you!
I seek to learn more about this issue, and hopeful that adjustments can be made by WEC to also protect the Horse Farms Forever mission. I certainly assumed that any advancements with the WEC for the “horse culture” would first be in alignment with protecting the existing farmlands – the very heart of breeding and training. I couldn’t be more excited about what’s happening with the WEC, and just confused by a conflict with any thoughts of dismantling farmland and open spaces? I assumed the desire for preservation, while exhibiting and embracing a shared desire for exciting new growth, were already in tandem before now? Perhaps this can be resolved sitting alongside each other, with both goals of preservation and development being realized.
I pray that will indeed be the ultimate outcome. A horse runs best, when all four legs are strong AND nurtured!