City officials have approved the rezoning of a 7.8-acre parcel of land for the construction of a new fire station in northwest Ocala, which will mark the city’s eighth.
During their meeting on Tuesday, September 17, Ocala City Council members unanimously voted in favor of adopting two ordinances related to Fire Station 8.
The first ordinance rezones the 7.8-acre property, which is located approximately 300 feet south of the U.S. Highway 27 and NW 45th Terrace intersection, from B-4 (General Business) to G-U (Governmental Use). With the second ordinance, the property’s future land use designation is being changed from “Low Intensity” to “Public.”
Earlier this year, on January 16, city council members unanimously approved an agreement between the City of Ocala (buyer) and Armstrong Land, LLC (seller) to purchase the 7.8-acre parcel for $612,000.
The seller is associated with the nearby Heath Preserve single-family subdivision, which is located south of the property.
Multiple parcels were analyzed for the new fire station, and city staff feels that the 7.8-acre site is best suited for it. The city intends to construct the station on the northern portion of the parcel, since this 3.6-acre area has been deemed “suitable for development.”
According to city staff, the rezoning and future land use ordinances are both “compatible” with Fire Station 8. The new station is expected to improve response times and better serve businesses and residences located in the “rapidly developing NW 44th Avenue (area) of the city.”
Specifically, Fire Station 8 will serve the Heath Preserve development to the south, as well as commercial properties to the east, properties to the north, properties located further to the east on the other side of Interstate 75, and properties developing off of NW 44th Avenue.
City staff believes that Fire Station 8 will “enhance the ability to provide fire services for citizens and businesses in the surrounding area by improving response times.”
The Ocala City Council regularly meets at 4 p.m. on the first and third Tuesday of each month at Ocala City Hall (110 SE Watula Avenue).