On April 14, 2025, the Marion County Board of County Commissioners directed county staff to spend 30 days attempting to secure an easement with an adjacent property owner so the Highway 27 West development (case 241211ZP, also called the Longleaf Park PUD in staff materials) can connect to Marion County water and sewer services. If staff cannot obtain a reasonable easement within the 30‑day period or the easement price exceeds the board's tolerance, the board authorized a fallback: pursue a negotiated bulk‑service agreement with the City of Ocala or allow the applicant to connect to city utilities. The directive passed 4–1; Commissioner Zalick dissented. Later in the meeting the board unanimously adopted the ordinance associated with the case.

Growth Services staff presented the site and explained the applicant's preference to connect to the county system because it is closer and cheaper, but noted a practical impediment: the easiest gravity connection requires an easement across an adjacent parcel. Utilities Director Tony Cunningham told the board Marion County utilities are available and recommended connection to the county, but said county staff have been unable to finalize an easement after months of contact attempts and that the adjacent property owner’s legal review was still pending.

The developer's representative and property proponent, Jimmy Gooding, told the board staff and the applicant had repeatedly sought an easement and presented three options for the board to consider: (1) secure an easement from the adjacent property owner at a negotiated price; (2) negotiate a bulk‑services agreement with the City of Ocala (the county would remain the wastewater utility but the city would provide treatment under an intergovernmental arrangement); or (3) allow direct connection to city services if the other two options fail. Gooding said the developer preferred the county connection and offered to pay a developer's share for intersection improvements requested by the county engineer if required.

Board members discussed escalation steps for staff and possible county‑level outreach to accelerate the adjacent owner's review. Several commissioners supported county connection via an easement as the first option but agreed it is reasonable to proceed to the second option (bulk agreement) or third option (city connection) if an easement could not be secured within the 30‑day window. Commissioner Stone moved the directive (30 days to secure easement; if unsuccessful permit city connection); Commissioner McLean seconded. The motion passed 4–1 with Commissioner Zalick voting no.

After public comment from Quail Meadows residents concerned about a pump station alarm and neighborhood impacts, the board took a second, separate vote to adopt the ordinance associated with case 241211ZP. Commissioner McLean moved the ordinance and Commissioner Stone seconded; the ordinance passed unanimously.

What the board directed staff to do: attempt to obtain an easement from the adjacent property owner within 30 days and escalate county outreach if necessary; if the easement is not secured within 30 days or if the easement cost is unacceptable to the board, pursue a bulk‑service agreement with the City of Ocala or allow the applicant to connect to city utilities. The board also approved the PUD ordinance for Highway 27 West by unanimous vote.