[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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",[32,75,87,99],{"_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",6688043,"mediaKeyId","2245571-d6485905f5b887f175e4b542610ffcc6","parentId",2245571,"title","Board asks staff to simplify economic element language, keep coordination with CEP and GIS site-inventory work","audioSeconds",1315,"startMs",4604000,"endMs",5919000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2245571-d6485905f5b887f175e4b542610ffcc6&start=4604&end=5919","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2245571-d6485905f5b887f175e4b542610ffcc6/thumbnail_4604000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6688043/Marion-County/Florida/Board-asks-staff-to-simplify-economic-element-language-keep-coordination-with-CEP-and-GIS-site-inventory-work","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6688043-4fc9f0b58cd595924d79574c3c5754be/orig.mp4?Expires=1771172269&Signature=nW~xkb2BDAMtAeTbEIEpnW4EsAIYAGyweoyfvtimcediB~tOhryqIOgmNvd4IFRkkyyEfOKniEoVMDU4N~5vyMLjt3aFG18-2GCgjwz0AyK-wUgUViaR6rkpr3em77fBQCf43k-zqQWHdkpg8C4-HHm0VD8TzIXIgGugEE86h0QVQdEXdWhOGbDIb7HqcmWVGM4hPwWPdWHy304Zf~6xOKjsXcmT0U5XY1S0jKjTXXq5VLfQkxHasJiCuGqy7cIpCyoIOEeiws5jnYGrnYOn1hbtxv1Y8Y1hnFdTCuMP9d1E9C4p2gaqwpcI6~ehkDWAKf-Pav~kBAn3yVduUcCAbw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Marion County","date","2025-02-06T00:00:00Z","article","Marion County commissioners reviewed proposed edits to the draft economic element and asked staff to simplify overly detailed program descriptions while retaining explicit coordination with the Ocala Metro Chamber and Economic Partnership (CEP).

Commissioner Stone asked whether the detailed lists of programs and reporting requirements in the draft represent day-to-day county practice. Staff said CEP has reviewed the element and continues to perform site-selection and target-industry outreach; county programs such as local grant or incentive tools remain available but are used selectively.

Staff described plans to make the county's site inventory and vacant-land database more accessible and actionable for economic development using enhanced GIS tools. The board discussed whether the comp plan should micromanage operational tasks; several commissioners favored a shorter, generalized policy statement that keeps coordination with CEP and acknowledges county tools without prescribing operational detail.

County staff agreed to review the economic element language and return with a more generalized draft: keep the coordination requirement with CEP, preserve the county's ability to partner or designate entities to advance target industries, and reduce prescriptive language about specific reports or program mechanics.

No formal action was taken; staff will return with revised language for a later workshop.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Marion County - Board of County Commissioners Workshop on 2025-02-06 2:30 PM - Workshop Regarding Updates to the Comprehensive Plan - Feb 06, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Commissioners reviewed the draft economic element, asked staff to generalize some program details, and confirmed coordination with the Ocala Metro Chamber and Economic Partnership (CEP) while moving to improve GIS-based site inventories for prospective developers.","taxTitle","Marion County, Florida","taxId",4897,"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},6688048,"Commissioners refine aquifer recharge and potable-water language, add Marian-county-centric goal",695,4322000,5017000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2245571-d6485905f5b887f175e4b542610ffcc6&start=4322&end=5017","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2245571-d6485905f5b887f175e4b542610ffcc6/thumbnail_4322000.jpg","/articles/6688048/Marion-County/Florida/Commissioners-refine-aquifer-recharge-and-potable-water-language-add-Marian-county-centric-goal","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6688048-68179136d40e7a2b2105f6f3d1deb3b2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771172269&Signature=fdnO5RwypncqLOaKiw88SO~kTteVaJwLDAPAgKt~zhA3MK53Jgp6sV3oAyyIWhnrfYsN8k3GACioOAITqhSVwwQ6HMwFGZwy1VQjkU3Cds~7CRt2OjJg1cybBB6l~RU0-o15RNsinPQDufUtRWIPnXNGUSfyGHs6a5ZG05oU6JtKfPQ8XSHFZIl0ecOd9O6uG4ygWsu4CMTMNVNNtrrBc8hD7hZXO7HX7cXE28v9ckRx3Qyu3v8W5EdzoktDwFW4s52TJPAShiaLtGx1ZG8ci2qvIxKtyHWi9Y1yCyHlbRKcKaxPH18gdocQWBPB-39q93U-fG5g9dnRZweB-3O0IQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Marion County commissioners reviewed proposed redlines to the potable-water and aquifer-recharge sections of the EAR-based comprehensive-plan update and asked staff to make the plan's purpose explicit: protecting groundwater and water supply for Marion County residents.

During discussion of the potable-water element and level-of-service (LOS) standards, staff said the state has urged jurisdictions to keep LOS language in the comprehensive plan rather than moving it to the land-development code. Staff recommended retaining a 50-gallons-per-person-per-day LOS standard in the potable-water policies to reduce the risk of state objections at transmittal.

On aquifer recharge, Commissioner McLean and others urged a clearer local purpose. Commissioner McLean proposed language to make the goal explicit: that the county protect recharge areas \"to ensure the availability of an adequate supply of quality groundwater ... for Marion County and its citizens through the proper management of surface water, ground water, and land uses.\" Commissioners agreed with that emphasis.

Staff also noted changes elsewhere in the element intended as cleanup following state changes: references to the state health department and Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) were updated, and septic system oversight references were revised because the state now handles certain septic permitting.

Commissioners discussed landscaping and irrigation policy language and asked staff to use phrasing such as \"drought-tolerant landscaping where applicable\" or a local \"Marion-friendly\" planting designation already set out in the land-development code to avoid unintended conflicts between comp plan language and code definitions.

The board asked staff to simplify one technical potable-water policy that had unclear phrasing about taking private systems in and making them meet county standards. Staff said they would revise the policy and return with clearer language.

No formal changes were adopted at the meeting; staff will produce revised text for future workshops.","Board members revised draft aquifer-recharge language to emphasize protecting Marion County's groundwater supply for county residents and asked staff to keep level-of-service language in the capital and potable-water elements to avoid state objections during EAR transmittal.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6688053,"Commissioners consider striking rural cluster-density bonus, favor using pieces of it inside urban growth boundary",893,3419000,4312000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2245571-d6485905f5b887f175e4b542610ffcc6&start=3419&end=4312","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2245571-d6485905f5b887f175e4b542610ffcc6/thumbnail_3419000.jpg","/articles/6688053/Marion-County/Florida/Commissioners-consider-striking-rural-cluster-density-bonus-favor-using-pieces-of-it-inside-urban-growth-boundary","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6688053-078bdd377980276ceae93b67d7ae92fb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771172269&Signature=b7AwmxApDNCravYUT6Ku2bsiFJslxq-yqeghEIMJ~~zqmVvJU6S--fONyD7sbKfn6CVg-ZkDG0Z3y0F3zrUg8py9FWuH5AH8pZdtl5JmFKKUsLzfYYdyG~uUQUseoRJcGZXoMGfRSuXNqNjSortIXlzMfssB3KF-ornnCilezzl49BQc7UuMmhmMw24KW~fO10FenYDX7Sjzcicfq7OSMhWLxZBPbtu8MBYELnfjQQtDRjeSVhE3ssQje9rEyw3daxHPj9kWTPr38MHUYbezmkqPWVdPkNVkx2RIsU6sR4JDdAK3xsIL673GA5apXwewiheBqVWL0mXXw3FRqJ~JeA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Marion County commissioners discussed whether to keep a cluster density bonus in the comprehensive plan for rural areas, with staff recommending removal or revision because the tool has seen little use and is seen as administratively heavy.

Blair Knighting of Kimley-Horn explained the bonus is limited to rural lands outside the urban growth boundary and farmland-preservation areas and requires a planned-unit development with at least 60% open space. Under the current language, the bonus changes an allocation from \"1 per 10 acres\" to \"1 per 7 acres,\" which yields four additional lots on a 100-acre parcel.

\"If no one's utilizing it, it's not working,\" Knighting said, describing the bonus as an interesting tool that is too complex relative to the reward.

Commissioner Curry and others raised a separate concern: they do not want incentives that encourage development in agricultural areas the board is trying to protect. Curry suggested keeping incentives inside the urban growth boundary instead.

County staff and several commissioners recommended striking the rural cluster-density bonus from the comp plan and adapting useful elements'for example, clustering, open-space design, and trail connectivity'for application inside the urban growth boundary or inside formally designated PSAs (public service areas) or hamlets.

Staff noted the county has used hamlet and clustered-development concepts in past projects and can provide examples; planning staff said hamlets were sometimes structured to keep open space at the perimeter and building lots in the center to preserve rural character.

The board directed staff to return with redlines: remove or simplify the rural cluster-density bonus and propose how to adapt its objectives for step-down zoning and targeted use inside urbanized areas.","The county's cluster density bonus for rural lands drew criticism as too complex and underused; commissioners directed staff to consider removing it from the comp plan and adapt useful elements for targeted use inside the urban growth boundary.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6688058,"Marion County commissioners debate keeping current floor area ratio limits, ask staff for local data",2071,1075000,3146000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2245571-d6485905f5b887f175e4b542610ffcc6&start=1075&end=3146","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2245571-d6485905f5b887f175e4b542610ffcc6/thumbnail_1075000.jpg","/articles/6688058/Marion-County/Florida/Marion-County-commissioners-debate-keeping-current-floor-area-ratio-limits-ask-staff-for-local-data","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6688058-913a6116fdcb20e8ea2767884f85eada/orig.mp4?Expires=1771172269&Signature=b0p7OtRsCMcaYdEBG--5ZNv~dM~FtB~sGhCVLSKKecs3a9X-CKI8hsM9ZhjxgKu7EBVEvnJveWJZtON~LFRbLQfge5QJBnXRppX2MnELSICYXe5JQcBdr3bdtAfUI96V9NepXfxn0K~LZA9c1-hle8jd7fgyJauphaY1eLfjyy8i1weGR01fnhbb7uT1U4lXfd-wuNRe~ShApGR0VUTsM0pEL6-QK5eOwwGYKRb1jHvhErG3LbttLUYpZqd7Bip8bTz5PilXKesnqzuDsojR7w-ApEhx5aLfKp6l6tB-CoRRxQkukUBfJAHm4yHEO8xIhmBgowtVLFCJFk1ya6wqVA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Marion County commissioners on Monday debated whether to change the county's commercial floor area ratio (FAR) ranges as part of an early action report (EAR)-based update to the comprehensive plan, ultimately directing staff to return with data and targeted mapping rather than immediately lowering the FAR caps.

Blair Knighting, a consultant with Kimley-Horn contracted for the EAR-based amendments, told the board that FAR measures \"the gross floor area of all the buildings that you plan to put on your parcel divided by the actual lot size,\" and that FAR is typically used for nonresidential development.

Knighting said Marion County's plan already contains a range of FAR values, with a low of roughly 0.35 in rural activity areas and a high of 2.0 in employment-center land-use categories, and recommended keeping those existing ranges for now.

Several commissioners pushed back. Commissioner Zalick said developers sometimes use a high commercial FAR as a bargaining chip when seeking land-use changes, and argued the county may be \"giving away trips\" on the road network because some conversions treat commercial entitlements as if they generate the traffic of intense commercial uses.

\"We're planning for 2050,\" Knighting replied, noting the county's urban growth boundary and the possibility that some areas will become denser over time. He also said certain uses, such as hospitals, can require higher FARs and that those would still come before the county in a planned-unit development or land-use amendment.

Amber Gardner, a traffic engineer with Kimley-Horn, told the board that when applicants seek a comprehensive-plan amendment they commonly present traffic analyses that argue the proposed land-use change \"would not result in a greater number of trips compared to the existing future land use.\" She said those analyses are presented to support a land-use amendment but do not themselves grant concurrency or automatic road capacity.

County staff and some commissioners said local construction patterns suggest most commercial projects build at FARs well below 1.0. Commissioners asked staff to compile local-build FAR data and offer recommendations showing where higher FAR allowances should be concentrated, such as inside proposed publicly supported areas (PSAs) or a more narrowly drawn portion of the urban growth boundary.

Staff said they will provide market and vacancy analyses and that the county is acquiring software (ArcGIS Urban) to better model vacant parcels, forecast likely development, and map where different FARs would be appropriate. Knighting said the county's state transmittal deadline for the EAR-based amendments is Jan. 28, 2026, and that the team plans additional public workshops before final redlines are transmitted.

Commissioners did not adopt an immediate change to FAR ranges. Instead, they directed staff to return with empirical data on what is actually being built in Marion County, mapped recommendations for where higher FAR should be allowed, and an analysis of potential effects on roads and entitlements.

The board scheduled the next workshop for Feb. 24 to continue work on step-down approaches and other EAR topics.","County planners and consultants recommended leaving commercial floor area ratio (FAR) ranges in the comprehensive plan unchanged while staff were directed to produce local development data and a targeted map of where higher FAR should apply by 2050.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board asks staff to simplify economic element language, keep coordination with CEP and GIS site-inventory work

Commissioners refine aquifer recharge and potable-water language, add Marian-county-centric goal

Commissioners consider striking rural cluster-density bonus, favor using pieces of it inside urban growth boundary

Marion County commissioners debate keeping current floor area ratio limits, ask staff for local data