SUBJECT:
Title
Request Consideration for Tesla Ocala Waiver to Major Site Plan; Parcel 41200-075-01; WaiverSTA-001252-2026; Sheryl Blasi (Budget Impact - None)
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INITIATOR: |
DEPARTMENT: |
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Ken McCann, Fire Marshal |
Development Review Committee |
DESCRIPTION/BACKGROUND:
Land Development Code (LDC) Section 2.21.1.A(1) requires a major site plan be submitted for review and approval prior to the issuance of a building permit or prior to the construction of site improvements when existing and proposed impervious ground coverage equals or exceeds 35 percent of the gross site area or 9,000 square feet.
The Applicant requests a Waiver to submit a building permit site plan in place of a revision lieu to Major Site Plan AR 2730 for a proposed Tesla Supercharger station at the existing Cracker Barrel site at 13561 SW 17th Court. The proposal includes 16 charging posts, two (2) supercharger cabinets and associated electrical equipment and lighting.
The Development Review Committee (DRC) considered the request on October 26, 2026, and voted to recommend denial. One factor in the recommendation was the DRC’s view that its waiver authority under LDC Section 2.10. did not extend to substituting one review process for another. The applicant proposed a different type of plan submittal rather than an alternative design or improvement standard. The DRC also raised concerns about the reduction in parking available for general use. The plans show that the project would use 17 existing spaces to provide 16 EV charging spaces, a net reduction of one space in the project area. Rule 5J-28.002, Florida Administrative Code, requires EV charging spaces to count toward applicable parking minimums and addresses reductions in the total number of spaces.
Separately, staff identified approximately 430 square feet of additional impervious area for drainage review and noted that some proposed improvements appear to extend into the five-foot Type E landscape buffer along County Road 484.
BUDGET/IMPACT:
None
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Recommended action
Motion to deny the Waiver request to allow submission of a building permit site plan in lieu of a Major Site Plan revision.
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