An application for rezoning and a master plan for a 43.62-acre property in northwest Ocala has been filed with the county, calling for the construction of a mixed-use development that will feature 140 single-family and townhome units, as well as 100,000 square feet of commercial space.
An application for a zoning change and a master plan for “Martingale,” a new development planned for northwest Ocala, came before the Marion County Development Review Committee on Monday.
The proposed development would be situated on a parcel located just south of Castro Plaza at 6998 N U.S. Hwy 27.
The plaza currently houses several businesses, including the recently opened Remington’s Steakhouse, the Juniper Store, and Horse & Hounds Restaurant. It is located just a couple of miles northeast of the World Equestrian Center.
The application was filed with the county by G. Matthew Brockway of Icard Merrill, a Sarasota-based company, on behalf of property owners Castro Plaza and Austin International Realty.
Martingale is billed as a “family legacy project designed to create a distinctive sense of place.” The community will be “walkable” and will have an “Ocala Equestrian Vernacular architecture,” according to the application.
The master plan calls for the construction of 100,000 square feet of commercial space and up to 140 residential dwelling units, “including both single-family detached homes and townhomes.”
The master plan proposes two alternative layouts for the site, with the primary difference being a 17,000-square-foot event barn in the southwestern portion of the site. While one plan proposes the event barn, the alternative plan uses the space for additional townhomes.
“Market conditions and demand will ultimately dictate which alternative is developed,” reads a statement from the county staff report.
Once developed, the Martingale common areas, signage, roads, stormwater management facilities, and other project infrastructure would be privately maintained by a property owners’ association.
The plaza and the land where the proposed Martingale development will sit are currently owned by Austin International Realty, Inc., a company based in New York that is registered to Bernadette Castro.Billed as the “Original Child Influencer,” Castro has been in the spotlight her entire life, shooting to national fame after starring in her father’s commercial promoting convertibles at his car dealership. Castro also recorded several songs in the 1960s. Castro is also the former Parks and Recreation Commissioner for the state of New York and was once a Republican nominee for Senator of New York.
During Monday’s meeting, the committee also heard from another property owner seeking to build a 213-home development in northwest Ocala just two miles from the proposed Martingale site.
In order for the master plan and rezoning request from community business (B-2), rural activity center (RAC), and general agriculture (A-1), to planned unit development (PUD) to move forward, the Marion County Board of County Commissioners must approve the measure by a majority vote during one of its upcoming meetings.
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article was corrected to remove incorrect information about the ownership of an apartment complex in northwest Ocala.
