SUBJECT:
Title
Sunstop #360 Ocala - Major Site Plan - 000296 - Waiver Request to Major Site Plan in Review
Parcel #: 24261-000-10 #WaiverPIR-001363-2026
Mastroserio Engineering, Inc.
LDC 6.12.11 Turn lanes
CODE states Turn lanes shall be required as warranted by the project's Traffic Impact Analysis and in accordance with FDOT or as approved by the County Engineer. In addition, turn lanes shall be considered any time an unsafe condition exists or will be created. The cost of construction of such lanes shall be the responsibility of the developer. Additional right-of-way may be required and shall be dedicated by the developer and shown on the Improvement Plans and Final Plat. Any off-site improvement designs shall be submitted as an Improvement Plan application.
APPLICANT request Developer’s Agreement (DA) - A draft DA and site plan showing the construction of the right turn lane on NE 35th Street has been submitted to the county for review. Marion County has planned the widening of NE 35th Street soon. The County’s planned improvements will reconstruct the roadway section, including turn lanes, drainage, and access management features along this corridor. The DA will address the Owner’s payment of the estimated cost of construction to the county. We expect the DA and turn lane plans will be approved prior to this site plan (this plan does not show the right turn lane construction) approval. For these reasons, the Applicant requests approval of a waiver from LDC §6.12.11 to defer construction of the warranted right-turn lane on NE 35th Street. The Applicant remains committed to coordinating with Marion County during the future widening project to ensure access design remains consistent with County standards. The client is willing to execute an agreement to protect the county’s interests and will compensate the county for the cost of the right turn lane. The cost to be determined and agreed upon by both parties, if the waiver is approved.
LDC 6.8.6.K(3) Buffers
CODE states C-Type buffer shall consist of a 15-foot wide landscape strip without a buffer wall. The buffer shall contain at least two shade trees and three accent/ornamental trees for every 100 lineal feet or fractional part thereof. Shrubs and groundcovers, excluding turfgrass, shall comprise at least 50 percent of the required buffer and form a layered landscape screen with a minimum height of three feet achieved within one year.
APPLICANT requests The Applicant requests a waiver from LDC §6.8.6 to allow construction of limited impervious area within portions of the required Type C Bu��er along the east boundary. This area directly abuts a heavily wooded County DRA that already provides substantial visual screening and functional separation, ensuring the intent of the buffer is maintained. In locations where the buffer width is reduced, the Applicant will provide additional landscape screening to preserve the overall effectiveness of the Type C Bu��er. The landscape architect and project engineer met with Susan Heyen and agreed to the changes shown on the site plan, landscape and irrigation plans submitted with this resubmittal.
LDC 6.8.8. - Building landscaping
CODE states A. Landscape plantings shall be provided along the public view sides of all proposed structures to reduce the monotony of large blank walls, reduce heat gain and glare, and enhance the aesthetic appearance of the building. B. Landscape areas shall be provided adjacent to or within 25 feet from the building walls and shall extend along 60 percent of the total length of the wall, excluding those areas required for access to the building. C. Landscape areas shall be a minimum of five feet wide allowing for a minimum distance of two feet from the façade to the innermost plants. D. Large trees shall not be located within 20 feet of a building. Accent/ornamental trees shall be located sufficiently to allow for healthy growth and to minimize the need for pruning.
APPLICANT requests a waiver to allow the required landscaping to be satisfied through enhanced screening within the Type C Buffer along NE 35th Street and NE 25th Avenue. The frontage buffers provide substantial opportunities for increased plantings and can achieve the same or greater visual mitigation and aesthetic effect as on-building landscaping. Enhancing the Type C Buffer along these corridors maintains the full intent of the Code while supporting a more cohesive and functional site design. The landscape architect and project engineer met with Susan Heyen and agreed to the changes shown on the site plan, landscape and irrigation plans submitted with this resubmittal.
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