The Vue is seeking approval from Marion County officials to rezone a 19-acre property for the construction of a 314-unit apartment complex in southwest Ocala.
The request will first be presented to the Marion County Planning and Zoning Commission during its meeting on Monday, March 28.
The 19.65-acre site consists of an open field with scattered trees and is located on the south/east side of SW Highway 200 at the intersection with SW 80th Street. The site is bounded by SW Highway 200 to the northwest, the Marion Landing subdivision to the east, and the Sun Country Estates subdivision to the south.
The property owner, Akshar Development, LLC, along with developer Luxury Leased Homes USA, LLC, are seeking a rezoning of the land from A-1 (General Agriculture) and B-2 (Community Business) to PUD (Planned Unit Development). A proposed amendment to the future land use designation, from Commercial to Urban Residential, is also being requested to increase the development potential for the site.
The developer is proposing a multiple-family residential rental apartment community, The Vue, that would consist of up to 314 garden-style apartment units. According to the conceptual plan, the developer is seeking 12 three-story apartment buildings that would extend northwest to southeast across the site from SW Highway 200 to SW 65th Avenue Road.
The Vue is proposing various amenities that would include a 4,800 square-foot clubhouse with a 24-hour fitness center, leasing center, game room, computer and print station, and a coffee bar. There would also be two fenced dog parks totaling 4,500 square feet, and a 5,000 square-foot outdoor amenity center that would include an outdoor fire pit, shuffleboard court, tot playground, pickle ball court, outdoor yoga center, and a 2,000 square-foot pool (60,000 gallons).
Two access points are being proposed for The Vue: on SW Highway 200 to the west and on SW 65th Avenue Road. County staff is recommending a mutual cross access connection between The Vue and the Laurel Commons (formerly known as Rolling Hills) development located to the southwest. The Florida Department of Transportation is also planning a signal project at the intersection of SW Highway 200 and SW 80th Street.
Internal sidewalks would be required to connect to the existing sidewalks along SW Highway 200, and sidewalks would also need to be connected with the sidewalks of the Laurel Commons development. The developer would be responsible for sidewalks along the site’s frontage on SW 65th Avenue Road.
A traffic study would be required to determine if any necessary traffic improvements are needed to support the development of the apartment complex. According to county staff, the site may result in up to 1,710 daily trips and 138 evening peak hour trips.
County staff is recommending approval of the future land use designation amendment, and staff also recommends approval of the rezoning request with developmental conditions that include the following: a traffic study must be completed and the PUD master plan must provide for full inter-connected access between The Vue and Laurel Commons at the southwest boundary.
The commission’s recommendation is not final, as that decision is left to the Marion County Board of County Commissioners. That board will determine whether to accept or deny the planning and zoning commission’s recommendation during its regular meeting on Tuesday, April 19.