SUBJECT:
Title
25-L02 - Golden Ocala Equestrian Land, LLC, et. al., requests a Comprehensive Plan Large-Scale Map Amendment to Change the Future Land Use Designation on ±250.86-Acres from Low Residential (LR) to World Equestrian Center (WEC), on Parcel Account Numbers including 21081-048-00, and portions of 21069-007-01, 21081-000001, 21081-001-00, 21087-001-00, 21087-001-02, 21065-000-00, and 21069-010-03, Multiple Address and/or No Addresses Assigned
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INITIATOR: |
DEPARTMENT: |
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Kenneth Weyrauch, Deputy Director |
Growth Services |
DESCRIPTION/BACKGROUND:
Applicant, W. James Gooding III, Esq., on behalf of the Owner, Golden Ocala Equestrian Land, L.L.C., has filed a Comprehensive Plan Large-Scale Future Land Use Map Series (FLUMS) Amendment Application to change the future land use designation of a ±250.86-acres. The property includes Parcel Account Number 21081-048-00 and portions of several other parcels. The applicant seeks to change the property's future land use designation from Low Residential (LR) to World Equestrian Center (WEC). The intention of this Amendment is to expand the Urban Area portion of WEC designated lands to enable outdoor and indoor sports and event facilities in the existing WEC Complex development. The proposed sports-related uses will include indoor and outdoor arenas, outdoor fields for baseball, soccer, softball, football, or polo uses, a sports entertainment venue area, parking, seating, etc. This item was continued to the June 30, 2025 Planning and Zoning Commission due to an error on the mailer to the surrounding property owners. The year was incorrect.
As a Large-Scale Amendment, three public hearings are required for consideration of this Application. The first is before the Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) to provide a recommendation regarding the Application, followed by the second before the Board of County Commissioners to determine if the Amendment should be transmitted to the appropriate state and regional agencies of Florida for their agency reviews. Following receipt of the agency reviews, the third public hearing will be held by the Board of County Commissioners to make a final determination regarding the Application; wherein that hearing will be duly noticed consistent with the LDC at that time. With the first hearing, the P&Z, based on a motion by Commissioner Behar with second by Commissioner Bonner, voted to agree with staff's findings and recommendation, and recommend approval of proposed Amendment 25-L02 by a vote 4-0.
This hearing represents the second public hearing wherein the Board of County Commissioners shall make findings related to the Amendment and determine if the Amendment will be transmitted to the appropriate state and regional agencies of Florida for agency review. Alternatively, the Board may disagree with staff and the P&Z findings and recommendation and act to deny transmittal of the Application that will function to conclude the Application's consideration.
There are three other concurrent applications with this Amendment: 25-L01 - Comprehensive Plan Large-Scale Text Amendment, 250606ZP - PUD Amendment, and 25-DM01 - Development Agreement Amendment. Application 25-DM01 is initially coordinated separately from the other three, but will also be considered with them at the time of their final approval and adoption consideration to be held in the future as previously noted if transmittal of the Amendment is approved. This application is dependent on approval of Amendment 25-L01, in the event 25-L01 is not approved for transmittal, this and the other applications will not be consistent with the Comprehensive Plan and will not be eligible for approval and require denial of those applications as currently proposed, unless withdrawn by the applicant.
BUDGET/IMPACT:
None
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Recommended action
Staff recommends the Board accept the recommendation and findings of staff and the Planning and Zoning Commission as preliminary findings related to the Amendment, and motion to transmit Amendment 25-L02 for Coordinated State Review in order to receive state and regional agency comments, if any, regarding the Amendment.
[In the event the Board disagreed with staff and the Planning and Zoning Commission regarding Amendment 25-L01 and acted to deny that amendment, this Amendment is not eligible and would then be recommended for denial.]
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