SUBJECT:
Title
Golden Ocala WEC Flex Z Arena - Major Site Plan - 001129 - Waiver Request to Major Site Plan in Review
Parcel #: 12674-001-00 #WaiverPIR-001308-2026
Tillman & Associates Engineering, LLC
LDC 2.1.3 - Order of plan approval
CODE states Plans listed below may be reviewed concurrently, but must be approved in the order listed below, when applicable and when the proper land use and zoning are in place: A. Master Plan. B. Preliminary Plat. C. Improvement Plan. D. Final Plat. E. Major Site Plan. However, a Major Site Plan can be substituted for the Improvement Plan and can be approved before approval of the Final Plat in cases when the infrastructure improvements supporting the plat are proposed as part of the Major Site Plan application.
APPLICANT - The Owner/Developer respectfully requests a waiver from Order of Plan approval to allow the Major Site Plan to be approved prior to the required November 24, 2026, Master Plan submittal date (as previously approved for separate AR 32969), subject to the Owner proceeding at their own risk, and subject to a hold on the request for final inspection for the Arena building until the updated Master Plan is submitted to Marion County.
The requested waiver is consistent with Section 2.10.2. of the L.D.C. and the proposed Flex Z equine riding arena building is located within the appropriate WEC land-use designation. The waiver will promote flexibility in the layout and design by allowing the County to review and act on the Major Site Plan while the Master Plan is being finalized and routed through its applicable review process. Approval of the Major Site Plan before the Master Plan will allow the project to proceed through a coordinated, efficient review, without eliminating or diminishing the County’s review of the Master Plan.
The requested waiver will also provide economic flexibility by avoiding unnecessary delays and duplicative plan revisions within both plan types.
The requested waiver is environmentally sound because the Major Site Plan (MSP) addresses the development’s environmental impacts before approval is granted. The MSP incorporates all County requirements for stormwater management, erosion and sediment control, wetlands protection and buffers, tree protection, utilities, landscaping, and other environmental safeguards.
The alternative approval sequence is appropriate for this development because the Major Site Plan contains the detailed design information needed for the County to evaluate the project’s physical layout and impacts.
LDC 2.12.4.L(10) / 6.11.8. - Parking requirements
CODE states A. Alternatives to these parking standards may be accepted by the Planning/Zoning Manager, if the applicant demonstrates that such standards better reflect local and project conditions. B. Number of Spaces. (1) Parking spaces for residential and non-residential developments shall be provided consistent with Tables 6.11-4 and 6.11-5.
APPLICANT - Consistent with Section 2.10.2, request waiver from standard required parking spaces. Table 6.11-5 does not have a use specifically for equine events. Closest alternative in LDC parking table would require more parking spaces than needed for this use, thus increasing construction costs (less economic) and increasing impervious areas (more environmental impact). The submitted Technical Memorandum Parking Study prepared by project's Transportation Engineer has determined a flexible minimum number of parking spaces required for the proposed building use.
Body
end