The City of Ocala Planning & Zoning Commission on the meeting record approved multiple land-use items, including two subdivision applications, an abrogation of an alley in downtown Ocala tied to a private redevelopment, a plat vacation for the Mercy Village site, a rezoning request to allow expansion of the Florida Center for the Blind and a Planned Development rezoning plus a resolution adopting PD standards for Emerson Point Phase 3. All motions carried unanimously on recorded roll calls.

Commission action matters because they change how parcels can be developed, transfer responsibilities for infrastructure and clear title issues that allow projects to proceed. Several approvals also tie county- and city-jurisdiction parcels together and preserve access to amenities approved under earlier phases.

The commission approved the city portion of Emerson Point Phase 1A (SUB 23-45387), a conceptual plan for Pine Oaks Preserve (SUB 24-45758), and the abrogation of 164 feet of an alley for Project Hometown (ABR 23-45350), which applicants said is part of a larger downtown redevelopment that includes a proposed AC Marriott hotel. The commission also approved PLV 24-0001, a vacation of an 1892 underlying plat for the Saving Mercy/Mercy Village site, and a rezoning (ZON 24-0007) to allow expansion of the Florida Center for the Blind. Finally, the commission approved a Planned Development rezoning (PD 24-45765) for Emerson Point Phase 3 and separately adopted the PD standards/resolution for that PD.

Staff presentations summarized key facts and conditions. Karen Cupp of the City of Ocala Growth Management Department described the city portion of Emerson Point Phase 1A as an 11-lot final plat; the city will maintain potable water and sanitary sewer for both the city and county portions, while homeowners association documents will cover private roadways and storm retention. Cupp said the city engineer recommended approval subject to an updated title opinion before recordation.

For Pine Oaks Preserve (SUB 24-45758), staff said the conceptual subdivision proposes 88 single-family lots on 16.363 acres with a 50-foot roadway and 22 feet of pavement; Radcliffe Engineering prepared the plan and Smart Fill Investments LLC is listed as the developer. Staff recommended approval of the conceptual plan.

Christina Wright, Growth Management, presented ABR 23-45350, a request from Domak LLC to abrogate the eastern 164 feet of a 14-foot-wide alley between Southwest Second and Third avenues in the downtown Community Redevelopment Area. Wright said the alley historically carried city stormwater utilities that are being relocated; staff found the abrogation would not adversely affect connectivity and would promote downtown redevelopment. Petitioner representatives said a public parking garage is planned across the street.

Ty Chikazola, city projects director, presented PLV 24-0001, a plat vacation requested to remove an 1892 underlying plat from the Saving Mercy site ahead of the Mercy Village project; Chuck Pigeon (Adora Group Inc.) said vacating the old plat is intended to clear title and remove a cloud on the property.

Planner Bridal Miller and petitioner counsel described ZON 24-0007 as a rezoning of roughly 5.57 acres in East Ocala to the institutional district to permit the Florida Center for the Blind to expand its campus. Staff recommended approval and said the rezoning was consistent with the neighborhood future land use designation and compatible with surrounding development.

Indira Madgevarian, chief planning official, and agent John Harvey presented PD 24-45765 for Emerson Point Phase 3. Staff noted the PD proposes approximately 72 lots, an overall density of about 4.38 dwelling units per acre, lot dimensions around 40 by 115 feet, and that the developer proposes to rely on amenities already approved in phases 1 and 2 (a clubhouse with pool, playground, two dog parks) rather than place aggregate open space on the new phase itself. Staff’s recommended conditions included requiring attached garages on single-family units and a perpetual requirement that amenities in phases 1 and 2 remain accessible to the entire development.

Commissioners asked questions about parking tied to the downtown project, the status of public improvements and the retained Duke Energy easement on the northern boundary of the Emerson Point Phase 3 site; staff and the applicant said the easement would remain and that amenities and infrastructure are intended to interconnect with prior phases. Agent John Harvey said the homes were intended to be higher-end product and provided a price range he quoted on the record as “2.50 to 2.90” (units not specified in the record).

Votes at a glance:
- SUB 23-45387 (Emerson Point Phase 1A final plat): Motion to approve passed by roll call (London, Poudreaux, Branson, McDonald, Lopez — ayes). City engineer recommendation: approval subject to updated title opinion before recordation.
- SUB 24-45758 (Pine Oaks Preserve conceptual subdivision): Motion to approve passed by roll call (London, McDonald, Branson, Poudreaux, Lopez — ayes). Concept: 88 single-family lots on 16.363 acres; roadway 50 feet wide with 22-foot pavement.
- ABR 23-45350 (abrogation of eastern 164 feet of alley for Project Hometown/Domak LLC): Motion to approve passed by roll call (Branson, London, Poudreaux, McDonald, Lopez — ayes). Alley described as 14 feet wide; staff said utilities are being relocated and a public parking garage is planned nearby.
- PLV 24-0001 (plat vacation, Saving Mercy/Mercy Village): Motion to approve passed by roll call (Lopez, Boudreaux, Branson, McDonough/McDonald, London — ayes). Purpose: clear an 1892 underlying plat for title purposes; final county action required for full vacation.
- ZON 24-0007 (rezoning to institutional for Florida Center for the Blind expansion): Motion to approve passed by roll call (McDonald, Branson, Poudreaux, London, Lopez — ayes). Subject area: ~5.57 acres in the East Ocala CRA; staff found rezoning consistent with future land use and compatible with surroundings.
- PD 24-45765 (Planned Development rezoning for Emerson Point Phase 3): Motion to approve passed by roll call (McDonald, London, Branson, Poudreaux, Lopez — ayes). Conditions include required attached garages and perpetual access to amenities in phases 1–2.
- Resolution adopting PD standards for PD 24-45765: Motion to approve passed on roll call (McDonald, London, Branson, Poudreaux, Lopez — ayes).

Discussion vs. formal action: The record shows staff presentations and limited questions by commissioners on parking, title clearance and easement treatment. All approvals were formal motions and roll-call votes recorded in the transcript; no item was tabled or failed. Several items still require follow-up administrative steps: final title opinion and recordation for the Emerson Point plat, dedication and one-year maintenance periods for infrastructure on Pine Oaks, and county commission approval for the plat vacation.

The commission adjourned with its next meeting noted as February 17 (date as stated on the record).