City officials will consider rezoning a 1.2-acre site for multifamily development

The owner of a 1.2-acre plot of land in northwest Ocala is seeking city approval to rezone the property for a new multifamily development.

The rezoning ordinance will be up for a vote at the Ocala City Council meeting on Tuesday, June 18. The ordinance was first introduced at the council’s previous meeting on June 4.

Owned by A-Deniv Corp., the property in question has been vacant for many years. It is located in the 2300 block of US Hwy 27, at the intersection of NW Old Blitchton Road and US Hwy 27.

In May, members of the Ocala Planning and Zoning Commission expressed concerns about “neighboring commercial uses and compatibility between multifamily and commercial uses along the U.S. Highway 27 corridor.” Ultimately, the group voted 5-1 to recommend approval of the rezoning ordinance.

Although the landowner has signaled intent to create multi-family housing on the site, no conceptual plans or site plans for the development have been provided to the city.

Whether or not it is rezoned, the property is currently zoned B-4, General Affairs, which allows for multi-family residential development in conjunction with a special exception approved by the city.

The owner is seeking to rezone it to R-3, multi-family residential, in order to “facilitate multi-family residential development” on the property.

According to a city staff report, a “small triangular portion containing approximately 820 square feet” is excluded from the “northwest rights-of-way of Old Blitchton Road, US Hwy 27 and northwest 10th Street” in because of its “size”. and orientation. »

“The triangular land is probably unbuildable,” indicates the services report. “Any future development would be relegated to the main portion of the subject property. »

According to city records, the current minimum density is 3 dwelling units per gross acre, while the maximum density is 18 dwelling units per acre.

Any future development must include runoff to match the prerequisites for development, as the property is not located in a Federal Emergency Management Agency flood zone, according to the city.

“Future developments will be subject to site plan review in accordance” with city code, according to the staff report.

The Ocala City Council meets regularly on the first and third Tuesday of each month at 4 p.m. at Ocala City Hall (110 SE Watula Avenue).