The City of Ocala Planning & Zoning Commission voted to approve a future land-use amendment (LUC25-0005) and a concurrent rezoning (ZON25-0012) for about 10.36 acres at 2500 NW 30 First Ave., moving the property from Medium Intensity Special District to Employment Center and rezoning it from R-1 and R-2 to M-1 light industrial.

Staff said the change would align the parcel’s designation with surrounding industrial development, including the adjacent construction and demolition landfill and the Ocala Marion County Commerce Park. “The applicant is requesting to change the future land use designation on approximately 10.36 acres from medium intensity special district to employment center and rezone the subject property from R-1 single family residential and R-2 two family residential to M-1 light industrial,” Emily Johnson, City of Ocala Growth Management Department, told the commission.

The change, staff said, would allow higher-intensity industrial uses consistent with nearby M-1 zoning and the industrial park to the west. Johnson said city utilities are available at the site and staff identified no level-of-service issues for public facilities resulting from the amendment. Based on those findings, staff recommended approval of both the land-use amendment and the rezoning.

Applicant’s agent Fred Arbors described the request as a “cleanup” after a February 2024 land swap between the city and Friends Recycling LLC that left the parcel out of alignment with the adjacent recycling/landfill property. “This property is not intended to be incorporated in the landfill whatsoever,” Arbors said, adding that any landfill expansion would require a separate process, including a chapter 163 development agreement.

A nearby resident, Anton Miller of 2014 Northwest 30 First Avenue, urged caution and asked whether impact studies had been done. “I’m just wondering what if there was any impact studies done that would be a detriment to our existing properties?” Miller said during public comment, raising odors and health concerns he associated with the adjacent recycling/landfill operations.

Commission discussion emphasized compatibility with adjacent industrial uses and restrictions that would prevent landfill expansion without a separate rezoning and development agreement. A motion to approve LUC25-0005 passed on a roll call vote; a separate motion to approve ZON25-0012 passed on a roll call vote.

Votes at a glance: LUC25-0005 — approved (roll call recorded: Mr. McDonald: Aye; Mr. Branson: Aye; Mr. Carlock: Aye; Mr. Lunden: Aye). ZON25-0012 — approved (roll call recorded: Mr. McDonald: Aye; Mr. Kerlock: Aye; Mr. Branson: Aye; Mr. London: Aye). The motions recorded no named mover or seconder in the transcript excerpt.

The commission’s action is a local planning decision to align land use and zoning with surrounding industrial activity; any future proposal to expand landfill operations on or adjacent to the parcel would require additional, specific approvals and agreements. The record shows staff recommended transmittal and approval; the item will follow the city’s usual permitting and compliance checks if a developer seeks specific projects under the new zoning.