[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6672131,"mediaKeyId","2135635-a2e0c6d44a72d05efc198cb99b04fc23","parentId",2135635,"title","Ocala council approves zoning, contracts and budget items including termination of drone contract","audioSeconds",1577,"startMs",4863000,"endMs",6440000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2135635-a2e0c6d44a72d05efc198cb99b04fc23&start=4863&end=6440","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2135635-a2e0c6d44a72d05efc198cb99b04fc23/thumbnail_4863000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6672131/Ocala/Marion-County/Florida/Ocala-council-approves-zoning-contracts-and-budget-items-including-termination-of-drone-contract","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6672131-65587d6065b4789f406719678e87215d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771182426&Signature=KyobhnEhDfszYaqE8d90XgmEd0Td-x0tuGpRZZJbHRddivIkGTXThjsGcUV8BnBl3TWvqCdlnhXM3MjU3m0QDM-yqZmtvf-NhzG1HIQ-ttNY~NeBRg~n2fYAG7rcOOazGGyX5Qa6D5MWXY-yIg-X92q77q3excO5OWMCHIcJl1-1n5xyD1NGxonTpGpw-yBjw5Srgj7q-DB0qnJSJoa6qk1cdUeczxsMLhMJtEbmbErfo2YjcR~-3pQtIO2oncdRJmekzoN~sLg~kDs~dvDmW3jVp7sYs4F7usjADbcsWmVj3zqW4ifih4ajBmI1R4JPFCwYao0bMsBnhjOt4xmmVw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Ocala","date","2025-01-21T00:00:00Z","article","Ocala — The Ocala City Council on Jan. 7 approved multiple ordinances, resolutions and contract actions spanning zoning, downtown development and budget matters. Highlights included adoption of a rezoning to allow multifamily housing on a wooded lot, approval of an alleyway abrogation for a planned downtown hotel, and a termination-for-convenience of a two-year drone-show contract after a high-profile drone incident.

Key actions and outcomes

- Ordinance 2025-15 (case ZON24-0003): Council adopted an amendment changing a 1.14-acre parcel in the 7100 block of Southwest Third Street from R-2 (two-family residential) to R-3 (multifamily residential). Planning staff noted the site is undeveloped, within a flood zone, and any redevelopment will require stormwater review and on-site runoff retention. The motion carried by recorded roll call (unanimous vote recorded as Aye).

- Resolution 2025-10 (alley aggregation for downtown hotel): Council approved vacating 164 feet of an east–west alley within the form-based code area to accommodate a proposed AC Marriott hotel; the applicant owns adjacent parcels and staff recommended approval.

- Resolution 2025-11 (Saving Mercy / Mercy Village): Council approved a resolution removing the Saving Mercy property from an old plat (18/92) as part of the Mercy Village project; staff will forward the resolution to the county for recording.

- Termination of Sky Elements agreement (Patriotic Skies drone shows): Staff recommended termination for convenience of the Sky Elements agreement after a Dec. 21 incident in Orlando in which a drone injured a child and the FAA suspended a waiver allowing multiple drones at night without position lights. Chief of Staff Christopher Watt said the suspension and ongoing FAA/NTSB inquiries prevent the city from completing required preparations, and council voted to terminate the contract.

- Contracts, purchases and change orders: Council approved a three-year mowing contract for 78 drainage retention areas (Dragonfly Pond Works, LLC), authorized a construction change order for a roundabout on SW 44th Avenue and associated budget resolution to fund the work, and approved equipment and vehicle purchases for various departments as provided in the adopted fiscal-year budget.

- Grants, federal/state funds and program agreements: Council approved an agreement with Marion County for a $100,000 Emergency Solutions Grant award to support countywide street outreach (for FY 2024-25), accepted a HOME program award of $256,344 (a reported ~35% reduction from last year’s allocation), and accepted SHIP funds of $502,079 (a reported ~40% reduction from prior year allocation). Council also authorized delegations of authority for reimbursement agreements with Florida Department of Emergency Management related to recent hurricanes.

- Utilities, investments and Ocala Fiber Network spending: Council approved fiscal-year expenditures for electric service provided by Duke Energy, renewed investment-advisor contracts, and approved consolidated payments for Metro E (CenturyLink/Lumen) circuits used by Ocala Fiber Network to connect customers where network infrastructure is not yet present.

Council discussion and staff context

Councilors and staff noted project-specific caveats: the multifamily rezoning is subject to stormwater and flood-protection requirements; the alley abrogation leaves part of the alley open for utilities and access; and the Sky Elements termination was driven by regulatory uncertainty and public-safety concerns following the Orlando incident. City staff indicated that certain projects (roundabout, hotel) remain subject to final design and right-of-way considerations.

Votes at the meeting were recorded by roll call for the items listed above; for several routine contract and budget items the staff recommendation prevailed by unanimous or recorded majority votes. The meeting minutes record the roll-call votes for each agenda item.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Ocala - City Council - Jan 21, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Ocala — The Ocala City Council on Jan. 7 approved zoning, development and budget actions including a multifamily rezoning, an alley abrogation for a planned downtown hotel, and termination of a drone-show contract after an out-of-area incident prompted FAA and NTSB scrutiny.","taxTitle","Ocala, Marion County, Florida","taxId",4898,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6672136,"Ocala council approves rezoning to allow women’s recovery facility at Compassion United Methodist site",3635,677000,4312000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2135635-a2e0c6d44a72d05efc198cb99b04fc23&start=677&end=4312","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2135635-a2e0c6d44a72d05efc198cb99b04fc23/thumbnail_677000.jpg","/articles/6672136/Ocala/Marion-County/Florida/Ocala-council-approves-rezoning-to-allow-womens-recovery-facility-at-Compassion-United-Methodist-site","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6672136-d44f14ebbb751e0a6dede2bb51b6e8f3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771182426&Signature=iUV4Wl-5zJGKnXl9jNYNUdCpvhBr3v~GswrJMJ-QnDgMNkLon0VBNFECbOkCNJY~q0QhyHZeKvT2HRv17JQh-VxxSt6hd00mBNFzW0M3q7Pa8rzBWYDUfJOrrk4F8nWrJxSn6BBLHQblo0GaXaxVd0mNXRLqW52BPVIVfsTFmuBUsvJZ32X2CLzkIXI3vXK8qXI7mYUQgSxk4vJw0Nngb9buH5NjjTQeNCtSnMmYzDdrHZ2rAPyrVqaLvcNX0VIaCTroTCQbL-5DlI5tPX4tXx6bSpIuMy~YF4-yfXWnkKtXfJEVaiibVJdpO284QpiC43zaJ6dh5p0SysnguYv2kQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Ocala — The Ocala City Council voted 4-1 on Jan. 7 to adopt Ordinance 2025-1, rezoning a 4.63-acre parcel at 1712 Southeast Lake Weir Avenue (parcel 2920-010-008) from Institutional to B-2A Limited Community Business to allow a women’s transitional recovery facility to operate on the site.

The motion to adopt the ordinance cited staff findings of consistency with the city comprehensive plan and compatibility with surrounding uses. Council members Jay Musley, Jim Hilty and Eiry Bethea voted in favor; Council President Kristin Dreyer voted no.

City planning director Aubrey Hill summarized staff findings, saying the property’s future land use is “low intensity” and that the B-2A zoning would allow commercial office and limited commercial uses while permitting continuation of the existing church use. Hill told council that “there are also adequate public facilities to service the proposed development,” and recommended approval based on those findings.

The applicant’s attorney, Tim Haines of Grama and Haines, and representatives from Open Arms Village presented the request and emphasized differences between the proposed facility and other low-barrier shelters in the city. Haines told council, “If I thought what Open Arms was going to do at this facility was going to become anything like the Salvation Army and have the effect on the neighborhood that the Salvation Army has … I wouldn't be here.”

Open Arms Village volunteers and staff described the program as a “high barrier” transitional recovery model. Mark Iams, a volunteer board member, said the program accepts roughly one in seven applicants and provides job placement, counseling, random drug testing and requirements such as curfews and chores. He said the program’s men’s facility has placed graduates in employment and the proposed site would offer similar services for women.

Supporters from the community included graduates and users of Open Arms who described personal recovery stories. Nick Covington, identified in the record as a graduate, said his life had “taken off” since completing the program. Several criminal justice and court officials, including Lori Cotton, presiding judge of the DUI court, and a circuit court judge who works with diversion programs, spoke in support, citing the need for high-barrier transitional housing that connects participants to services.

Opposition centered on the location of the rezoning in a neighborhood near schools and an assisted-living facility. Jordan Rainey, who said he lives a block from the site, opposed rezoning on the grounds that B-2A allows a range of commercial uses and that the change would be permanent. James Knopfel, principal at Saint John Lutheran School, said school safety was his primary concern and that he would have preferred a conditional use permit or a different location.

Open Arms staff and board members told council the Florida Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church will be the landlord, the facility will be for women only, and the program will include on-site case management and security measures including restricted visitors, cameras and an on-site house manager. Open Arms representatives said renovation costs were expected to be substantially lower than new construction because the campus already includes kitchen and support facilities; one speaker referenced an approximate renovation cost of about $700,000.

Council discussion referenced the success and conduct of the existing Open Arms men’s facility at St. Mark’s and the organization’s acceptance standards. Council members who voted in favor said the site’s location on a commercial corridor and the program’s safeguards and track record made the rezoning appropriate. Council President Dreyer said she supported the program but opposed rezoning the church property to B-2A because the zoning change would permit other future uses beyond the current agreement and could not be limited to Open Arms by zoning alone.

The ordinance as adopted includes standard language directing staff to implement the map amendment, to reconcile any inconsistencies with other codes and to provide an effective date. The council’s official motion text recorded in the minutes states the ordinance was adopted “as provided by the Charter of City of Ocala, except that adoption by sections on second reading be waived and based on staff’s recommendation for case number ZON24-4575 and other evidence presented to city council.”

Community members and Open Arms representatives said the facility would be intended as a program for women who are motivated to enter recovery; Open Arms officials said they have not needed to call law enforcement at their existing facility and that they maintain relationships with local detox and treatment providers for residents who do not complete the program.

The council’s approval authorizes the rezoning only. Any renovation, building permit, or future change of use would require separate staff review and applicable permits. Open Arms and the Florida Methodist Conference will be responsible for program operations and any lease terms required by the property owner.

Votes at a glance: Musley — yes; Hilty — yes; Bethea — yes; Dreyer — no. Outcome: approved.","The Ocala City Council on Jan. 7 adopted Ordinance 2025-1 to rezone a 4.63-acre property at 1712 SE Lake Weir Avenue from Institutional to B-2A, clearing the way for a transitional recovery facility for women operated by Open Arms Village and hosted on property owned by the Florida Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church.","actionData","errors"]

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Ocala council approves zoning, contracts and budget items including termination of drone contract

Ocala council approves rezoning to allow women’s recovery facility at Compassion United Methodist site