[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-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",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_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",6641668,"mediaKeyId","3726982-429385da0d2fc1a5b26f7fae5df1d3be","parentId",3726982,"title","Board considers lowering urban scenic-road standard to 'C'; engineers report 475A fixes planned","audioSeconds",1594,"startMs",5713000,"endMs",7307000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3726982-429385da0d2fc1a5b26f7fae5df1d3be&start=5713&end=7307","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3726982-429385da0d2fc1a5b26f7fae5df1d3be/thumbnail_5713000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6641668/Marion-County/Florida/Board-considers-lowering-urban-scenic-road-standard-to-C-engineers-report-475A-fixes-planned","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6641668-77417da3159eb513ec5e2394e3b87b0e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771117305&Signature=FAc55paO-QG3oHYpbkXBvjhG-dm-R9UubSwN-NFNqBDVDJ31e~YnSAlAQBYPT5WeD1iUMRkOFq1CrgcveFpBBbNPlzCcNZsGDR~YiV4RIgQoY1oeaECtTvQxWj~o1jU8rRwIFyvfxtOSQfESfo5lymeNQblI5WxLd8o-Hw02w-y4wO9dPgtP-LEt~rhP-6kGeAAW~4nUXAei55XyTTGlegH9mLxvZqManZd3Z54S35YINFY8w5wZqe6Q~ViflhanBGIMGwjwpyygLHPaXyTLzoEeuswTkaJwwbCJHt6jW-Ff6xUHusbbUtDDL8YKGiJDvhSeQQumV84bSkLE~olqQQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Marion County","date","2025-06-09T00:00:00Z","article","Marion County staff recommended changing scenic-road level-of-service (LOS) policy so scenic routes have a single, uniform LOS C standard rather than a higher urban B standard, and county engineers reported ongoing drainage and roundabout work on County Road 475A.

Amber Gartner and Kimberly Horne summarized prior workshops and a map showing 45 designated scenic roads in the county. Gartner said the change would make the scenic-road standard consistent across the county; she explained that several scenic roads inside the county’s urbanized area presently operate worse than the urban B standard, and moving to a uniform C would reduce the number of scenic-road designations that are classified as deficient under the comp plan standard.

Commissioners voiced concern about the effect of reducing the standard from B to C on roads with mature tree canopies and scenic character. One commissioner said: “I don't like spending millions of dollars for an empty road,” and also said she did not want to remove canopy protections. Amber advised cleaning up the scenic-road list in the code and urged careful review of where canopy protections should remain.

Stephen Cahoon, County Engineer, updated the Board on County Road 475A, saying design work is at 90% for the two-lane elevating project with future conversion to four lanes possible; plan delivery is proceeding and the road elevation work is slated in the TIP for fiscal year 2026 with an estimated construction cost in the $13.6 million range. Cahoon said staff are engaging adjacent property owners about right-of-way and that the county is planning temporary pumping or other prestaging if a storm requires interim measures.

Commissioners asked staff for time to consider the scenic-road standard change and to reconcile the policy with local canopy protections and planned improvements. The Board agreed to take up the scenic-road LOS question again after staff adjusts code listings and provides additional context about specific segments such as 475A.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Marion County - Board of County Commissioners Workshop on 2025-06-09 2:30 PM - Workshop Regarding the Comprehensive Plan - Jun 09, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Staff proposed a uniform 'C' level-of-service standard for scenic roads across urban and rural areas to align with non-scenic road standards; commissioners raised concerns about preserving canopy and capacity, and county engineer outlined near-term drainage and roundabout projects for 475A.","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},6641671,"Board discusses hamlets, 1–5 acre 'mini farm' demand and infrastructure constraints",331,4333000,4664000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3726982-429385da0d2fc1a5b26f7fae5df1d3be&start=4333&end=4664","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3726982-429385da0d2fc1a5b26f7fae5df1d3be/thumbnail_4333000.jpg","/articles/6641671/Marion-County/Florida/Board-discusses-hamlets-15-acre-mini-farm-demand-and-infrastructure-constraints","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6641671-9fd97642e5b1cdbd4f7e181b0e98c969/orig.mp4?Expires=1771117305&Signature=DWXl9bI9wnaIe4bQZbxrA8ji6Yvvu9I~RDaPUkKpylA~~w4WtoYO3BqXUCIDTb~htx0Dit5pb3taBfuAlNzP8UkkjidaZlZEJs7waYFk-SE3YzuwublTX8GOIyZ3fViHush2WYAHjiEZAVnEMTISEBkpA5IJ2uHyVDbFjNnUMhqRSETu4qwDh3Zfdxd7qZZ469jVNSK-knFFyKG4qzot0WrAdjdqUfFfF9sopd1g44SyvnInM81H2PA~1GGkC3C6pYv3T9XL26Lr07xeANhbXGO5xdw7XE39bgs8XIqQl4vMs1m3QB0fdsh8BxA7PqZe1bjRaVOcf5AWVs~KBYlKmg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Marion County commissioners and planning staff discussed why small-acreage 'hamlet' or 1- to 5-acre residential options are rarely proposed despite apparent public demand, and what code, utility and maintenance constraints limit such development.

Planning staff explained that the county’s current hamlet provisions allow two density options, including 1 unit per 3.5 acres, but that option typically requires a water system capable of providing fire flow. A staff explanation noted that hamlets are not permitted in the county’s farmland preservation area, a restriction intended to protect larger agricultural operations.

Commissioners said property owners and prospective buyers want more 1–5 acre options for hobby farms and equine uses. “There are people that wanna have acre lots just for residential,” one commissioner said, and multiple commissioners urged the county to make it easier to create modest-acreage properties where appropriate. Staff cautioned developers often avoid constructing small-lot subdivisions because the cost of infrastructure—water systems, sewer connections or advanced septic systems—can be high and because utility connection distance standards or springs-protection rules may apply.

Planning staff pointed to existing examples such as Bel Lago and Hunterdon hamlets and said the county has authorized some hamlets historically, but uptake has been limited. Commissioners asked staff to prepare scenarios and examples so landowners and developers can see feasible pathways to create smaller-acreage residential lots without undermining agricultural protection zones.","Commissioners and planning staff reviewed existing hamlet options in the land-use code (1 unit per 5 acres or 1 per 3.5 acres with a water system), noted constraints in farmland preservation areas, and discussed how water, septic and fire-flow requirements affect small-holding development.",{"_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},6641675,"Commissioners decline a step-down zoning approach and keep urban growth boundary line",1897,3698000,5595000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3726982-429385da0d2fc1a5b26f7fae5df1d3be&start=3698&end=5595","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3726982-429385da0d2fc1a5b26f7fae5df1d3be/thumbnail_3698000.jpg","/articles/6641675/Marion-County/Florida/Commissioners-decline-a-step-down-zoning-approach-and-keep-urban-growth-boundary-line","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6641675-9dcc063aa5d9d8212040e0e4672db623/orig.mp4?Expires=1771117305&Signature=ivPqj7SiRh53ZSF7VFgzPHH9Ivw68ImhKfLa6rdAt3fa-oA0MWMJ3JE7luODhWhWwgVZeHTzGKvxSx-Hu7l9EmbhToVCvAV3~PCRv1guhQtJHcn7urP25m9YtNZoX1CPfc8MbWzeHMVXGRHz4okGSeLJ47iWlZt93dVyuwZQ9axnPiFwN~1qA8ONxoc~HaM80UcaYlp8P9ibmUMGuppxQJMCxrafN2Wp0V1OU7CG6E-nYQUL5gAt2xHar0w7gnBAzlbuvKjNXOCUQ6A~OSxOdcM4FUHRq4tBkPJb8ccbrgmbKkfYjva5476yY81cgVjanRgWefxmiCaBmDd4yWxMNw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Marion County staff presented three options for a step-down approach inside the urban growth boundary — a visual 100-foot buffer, a 100-foot buffer plus a quarter-mile density step-down, and a more restrictive quarter- to half-mile density/TDR approach — and commissioners decided to keep the urban growth boundary line as-is while using other tools such as buffers.

Blair Knighting, staff member, described the three options and emphasized exemptions for parcels of record, family divisions and bona fide agricultural parcels. The most restrictive option would have combined a 100-foot visual buffer, a quarter-mile minimum-density zone, and a half-mile area that limited densities to a medium range unless developers used transfer-of-development-rights (TDRs).

Several commissioners objected to the most complex option. Commissioner Stone said the third option was “too complicated” and noted the county does not yet have a functional TDR program to support that approach. Commissioner Bryant and others favored leaving the current line in place. Legal concerns were also raised: a staff member (Minter) warned that an overly broad restriction might “constitute a taking in some cases.” Blair told the Board the draft language exempted vested rights and family divisions to reduce legal risk.

Board members asked staff to continue work on buffers and the TDR program separately. Commissioners requested that staff return with refinements, community outreach, and a more effective TDR process before attempting an added step-down mapping approach. The Board’s direction amounted to leaving the growth boundary line unchanged for now and addressing edge conditions through other regulatory tools and future work on TDRs.","Staff presented three step-down options (100-foot visual buffer, quarter-mile density step-down, and a layered TDR approach); after legal and practical concerns, commissioners voted informally to keep the existing urban growth boundary line and rely on buffer measures and other tools.",{"_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},6641678,"Commissioners weigh amenity-based park standards, Horseshoe Lake upgrades and group campsites",1059,1871000,2930000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3726982-429385da0d2fc1a5b26f7fae5df1d3be&start=1871&end=2930","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3726982-429385da0d2fc1a5b26f7fae5df1d3be/thumbnail_1871000.jpg","/articles/6641678/Marion-County/Florida/Commissioners-weigh-amenity-based-park-standards-Horseshoe-Lake-upgrades-and-group-campsites","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6641678-0c53b1ef955daaed04a07ba777037767/orig.mp4?Expires=1771117305&Signature=Xz265olh8m11ZR8Yuh9gaVgj2Va7t-QS9DHPhjN6zPie7~kKmq2Imee8DelEnr213RjRTaZ5pMCGBwTUj1mhRGV8XfpPh2HG6Q3KtwMAudekZs8xNLYA1lhwVQDfK6A3QY7n1WCem5KantAnNbVyiB9XivvKMWjIjOCGISn4ZQXmheNrJER8Uisv0WKar7Y8ydyk8fPMPcJJq-b9zikYR-GtFK7W0tYE442ydo0nLsQdFoGTS-VJvT76ggqzp92Whr3AM034FiV~H4TRAZyPyDsxr0tPAEwQRKCGXVDXo7JVTCtg4XMC1QgDKk8Hkc3NY7VjWK5YV3gPSG2eo~DRaw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Marion County staff proposed an amenity-based level-of-service (LOS) for county parks to supplement the existing acreage-based standard, prompting commissioners to weigh whether to set targets for amenities such as playgrounds, basketball courts, regional-park features, group campsites and swimming pools.

Blair Knighting, staff member, presented a table that isolates Marion County’s unincorporated population and the county-controlled park acreage; she said the county currently meets the 2 acres-per-1,000 people acreage LOS and asked whether commissioners wanted to “focus on quality” by adding an amenity-based LOS. \"I think it gives you a goal because you're exceeding that acreage based LOS,\" she said, describing the proposed amenity list as a “goal” that staff could narrow.

Jim (identified in the meeting as Parks and Recreation Director) answered questions about specific amenities. He confirmed the county has one 400-meter running track at Brick City Adventure Park (a typo in the initial inventory had shown zero) and said group camping in county parks currently is not provided as a designated primitive group-campsite facility. He described two parks — Horseshoe Lake and Cohaju Park — that have been used informally for organized group camping in exchange for service projects but said the county has “0 designated areas like that within our county park system, period.”

Commissioners discussed possible retrofits for Horseshoe Lake, including adding cabins, glamping or dedicated group-campsite infrastructure. One commissioner suggested relocating day-use areas and expanding cabin and glamping offerings to support reunions and larger groups. Jim and commissioners noted that glamping requires additional maintenance and a host to manage bedding and cleaning, and that any expansion raises operational budget needs.

On pools, commissioners questioned whether county-built pools should be a LOS item given private pools, springs, and pools provided by PUDs and private developments. Several commissioners favored first inventorying and improving existing facilities before committing to new capital projects. Commissioners asked staff to take the amenity LOS proposal to community workshops for citizen input and to return with public feedback and cost estimates.

No formal policy change was adopted at the workshop. Staff said the proposed amenity list could be refined and brought back to the Board, and commissioners agreed to gather public input at upcoming community workshops before deciding on amenity-based standards.","Staff proposed adding an amenity-based level-of-service for county parks to supplement acreage standards; commissioners asked for public input, and parks director and commissioners discussed group campsites, glamping and maintenance costs at Horseshoe Lake.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6641680,"Marion County commissioners debate whether to add police and fire service level to comprehensive plan",836,1066000,1902000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3726982-429385da0d2fc1a5b26f7fae5df1d3be&start=1066&end=1902","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3726982-429385da0d2fc1a5b26f7fae5df1d3be/thumbnail_1066000.jpg","/articles/6641680/Marion-County/Florida/Marion-County-commissioners-debate-whether-to-add-police-and-fire-service-level-to-comprehensive-plan","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6641680-d87e1f6569b2bb6f07da0d2d7ebdda9e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771117305&Signature=oaP2XsslHn6r9DYg0vSopuXyBXVR6-195G2MimHyIGYSM4h6Mvhk8PyVr21nur8twmRsSwFBDrKG0sl3IKzE1iBnjN2JzQQmitqO7TX~WJRLFlYKwTwY-QX3I6sKreZF3Zd7u9GXp7S5FbzZh-oyVAMEPouWD5~SfN10-cMJFX-zmXJcxgTTVDc3BttV-Y7X8tSmp1FtS6NaZZBVstx6Q4Mt~zNhuz7WukNYrN5mqZ40ICkqMkqa~l-u4YT11nG6gwRjwAlkwWT09HPthG0l4MPP5Jmle2q1Qp5oZ2ql~FqLvzf5UjGtr7bvjqAjHwmeLFQD0N0CpPsd6yOBuk5qxQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Marion County commissioners spent an extended portion of a workshop discussing whether the county should add a formal level-of-service standard for police and fire services to its comprehensive plan, with staff recommending no change and elected officials asking for follow-up research.

Blair Knighting, a staff member, told the Board that “none of [the municipalities in the area] are doing police or fire in their comprehensive plan,” and that her review with other Florida planners found such LOS provisions “are not really something that is done often.” She said the county already includes police and fire review in the PUD application process and recommended not adding a police-and-fire LOS to the plan at this time.

Commissioners pressed staff on whether an application could be denied if police or fire reported they could not serve a proposed development. Commissioner Curry asked how the county should proceed when an applicant’s proposal generates fire or police comments showing a need for “additional capital, additional building” or staff. In response, a staff member identified as Minter said the comp plan amendment phase is when the county would most effectively address such concerns, noting that granting a comp plan amendment gives entitlements that can be difficult to reverse.

The sheriff’s office also factors into the discussion. Commissioners and staff noted that the county’s reinstated impact fee covers capital costs such as stations but does not pay for personnel. Commissioner remarks and staff replies focused on whether impact fees, assessments, or development agreements could address both capital and ongoing personnel costs. Blair Knighting summarized that impact fees “only covers the capital” and that personnel costs remain a budget concern for the county.

No formal motion was recorded at the workshop on this topic. Commissioners asked staff to research the legal authority and procedural options — in particular how comp plan amendments and findings related to public health, safety and welfare interact with applications that municipal responders identify as unserviceable — and to return with more specific guidance.

The Board also discussed the practical effect of any new LOS policy and how it would interact with existing tools such as development agreements, impact fees and the county’s PUD review process. Commissioners emphasized the distinction between capital funding (impact fees) and operational personnel costs (not covered by impact fees), and noted that the county must consider court decisions and statutory changes when drafting plan language.","County staff recommended not adding a formal level-of-service (LOS) standard for police and fire to the comprehensive plan, but commissioners asked staff to research whether comp-plan amendments can be denied when public safety services cannot be provided.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board considers lowering urban scenic-road standard to 'C'; engineers report 475A fixes planned

Board discusses hamlets, 1–5 acre 'mini farm' demand and infrastructure constraints

Commissioners decline a step-down zoning approach and keep urban growth boundary line

Commissioners weigh amenity-based park standards, Horseshoe Lake upgrades and group campsites

Marion County commissioners debate whether to add police and fire service level to comprehensive plan