An investment group is seeking a special use permit to build out a food truck park on a parcel in south Ocala that will have space to accommodate 45 food trucks, 150 parking spaces, and picnic tables.
The request will be presented to the Marion County Planning and Zoning Commission during its regular meeting on Monday, July 29.
Tigo Investment Group, LLC, which is owned by Luis Betances, filed the special use permit earlier this year for an address-less, 2-acre parcel (41200-079-03) along SW Highway 484.
The property in question is currently zoned Community Business (B-2) and is situated just south of the Ocala Sun RV Park, next to the Ocala Food Trucks park, which opened this past March near 2655 SW Hwy 484.
According to a letter from Betances to the Marion County Board of County Commissioners, the property owner is hoping to create a “vibrant community space that offers a variety of culinary experiences while fostering local business growth and community engagement.”
“We believe this project will not only enhance the local food landscape, but also contribute positively to the economy of Marion County,” reads the letter from Betances.
A master plan submitted with the application shows accommodations for approximately 150 parking spaces, 45 food trucks, picnic tables, restrooms, and dumpsters at the site.
The food trucks will have “plastic-lined containers for grease and trash” and the existing vegetation will be maintained as the proposed buffers, according to the county. The master plan shows nearly three dozen trees that would be part of the park.
According to Betances, the park will have “thoughtfully designed ingress and egress points that cater to. both vehicular and pedestrian traffic,” and will stratetically place the food trucks “to facilitate easy access.”
County staff says the food truck park is the first seeking approval in the area.
“As this is the first food truck park proposed in Marion County, the planning staff, through this report, will make recommendations that if the SUP is approved, the site will be consistent with Marion County’s Comprehensive Plan and Land Development Code and compatible with the surrounding area,” reads a memo prepared by county staff.
Regardless of the PZC’s recommendation, the request will be presented to the Marion County Board of County Commissioners for final consideration during its regular meeting on August 20, 2024.
The Marion County Planning and Zoning Commission meets on the last Monday of each month at 5:30 p.m. in the McPherson Governmental Campus auditorium located at 601 SE 25th Avenue in Ocala.
