The Ocala City Council voted to transmit a proposed comprehensive-plan text amendment for properties associated with KS Ocala LLC to the Florida Department of Commerce on Oct. 21. The vote was a procedural step to allow state review; no final approval of the amendment occurred at the meeting.

Growth Management Director Jeff Schrum told the council the transmittal starts the state’s expedited review and that a related planned development (PD) rezoning, PD plan and standards book and a development agreement will follow for final consideration. “This is not an approval of the amendment at this point,” Schrum said, adding the PD plan will need to show how the applicant addresses existing policy requirements the text amendment would delete.

The subject area includes two parcels: a roughly 50.42-acre portion subject to policy 18.13 (within a 76.86-acre parent parcel) and a separate roughly 25.51-acre parcel tied to policy 18.24. Schrum summarized six requirements in policy 18.13 (including an intensity cap tied to a 0.75 floor-area ratio, buffers and landscaping, signage controls, and traffic-study obligations) and four requirements in policy 18.24 (including limiting residential density to previously approved numbers and a traffic study). Schrum said many of those items are now standard code requirements and can be addressed in the PD plan.

Fred Roberts, representing the applicant, asked the council to move the transmittal so state review comments can be received and concurrent zoning and PD materials can be heard together. “This is kind of a first step … it is not giving away any rights or consideration,” Roberts said, noting staff and the applicant had agreed to waive timing rights so related matters can be heard in unison.

Council members asked no substantive questions at the meeting. The roll-call vote to transmit the amendment to the Department of Commerce was unanimous.

The council’s transmittal sends the city’s proposed text changes to the state for comment; the council must still hold a final local adoption hearing after the state review. The applicant and staff said the PD plan will be the document that shows how the deleted policy requirements will be met or replaced through specific design, traffic and infrastructure commitments.

Votes at the meeting on this item were procedural; the state review typically takes about 30–45 days and the city will schedule a final local hearing when state comments are received.