Although proponents of a sober living facility planned for an Ocala church campus will have to wait another month to see if their project can move forward, a local principal believes the program’s proximity to his school and others nearby would jeopardize the safety of students.
The vote to rezone the church property at 1712 SE Lake Weir Avenue was postponed during the Ocala City Council’s regular meeting on Tuesday evening.
The applicant, the Board of Trustees of the FL Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, requested that the decision be postponed until the Ocala City Council’s regularly scheduled meeting on January 21, 2025.
Before the council voted to postpone the decision, multiple residents shared public comments on the facility, with many speaking in favor of the program and its benefits.
One member of the public, James Knoepfel, expressed concerns similar to those that he and other local residents expressed to city officials during a meeting of the Ocala Planning and Zoning Commission in September.
Knoepfel, who is the principal at St. John’s Lutheran School, reiterated that he commended the attempt to assist those in need by the church, but that he was still “deeply concerned” about the proposed facility’s location.
“I had hoped that an alternative location could be found. At the least, I had hoped that a conditional use permit would be allowed, but I understand that this was not a possibility,” said the principal.
Knoepfel, whose school serves over 500 students between preschool and twelfth grade, stated that although the intent behind the actions to help others should “be applauded” and that his school shared a similar “commitment to compassion,” the proximity of the proposed program to St. John’s Lutheran School and several other campuses in the area raised concerns.
“While I acknowledge that there is a rigorous application and screening process for residents, the potential risk associated with individuals who may be struggling with significant issues cannot be overlooked. Screening processes work, to an extent, but they are not infallible,” said Knoepfel.
The principal suggested that the individuals in the program could have “acquaintances” with similar issues that visit them at the campus or nearby, posing “safety” risks that “need to be carefully and continually considered.”
“School safety is one of my primary responsibilities as an administrator. I’m obligated to speak up on behalf of the safety and well-being of our students before situations occur. When problems or tragedies do take place at schools, the general public, and especially the media, take a close look at school procedures, as well as community decisions, to see what could have been done to prevent the situation and provide a safer environment for children,” said Knoepfel.
The principal closed his remarks by suggesting that approval could open up the property in the future if it were sold into being developed with businesses that “would not be favorable to schools, residences, and parks.”
“I love this community, I love this neighborhood, I love my school, and I am deeply committed to preserving the safety of my students and all the students nearby. It’d be devastating to explain to anyone that their child’s safety was put in jeopardy unnecessarily because of a rezoning decision,” said Knoepfel. “It would also be unfortunate to have a beloved neighborhood that represents the beauty of old historic Ocala put in jeopardy.”
After his comments, the council voted unanimously to postpone the decision.
Currently, Compassion United Methodist Church operates out of the 4.53-acre site in southeast Ocala.
If the church’s request is approved, the property would be rezoned from institutional (INST) to limited community business (B-2A) to create an extension of Open Arms Village (OAV), a local sober living program.
According to the city’s staff report, the proposed rezoning is considered “consistent with the Low Intensity Future Land Use classification,” and is “compatible with the surrounding areas.”
“Compared to the nearby B-2 zoned properties, the proposed B-2A, Limited Community Business, zoning district allows for a more limited set of permitted uses,” reads the staff report.
The new facility would be built within the church, which is used now for Sunday worship services, daily recovery meetings, and other church activities.
The proposed expansion calls for 16 beds and daily sober living services similar to those offered at the first OAV program established at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church (1839 NE 8th Road) a decade ago.
While the original program is exclusively for men, the new program would provide mental health and substance abuse counseling to women, subjecting them to a rigorous screening process and background check, as well as drug tests throughout their stay.
Since OAV was founded at St. Mark’s United Methodist Church, the program has seen hundreds of men successfully pass through its doors.
Do you support the creation of a new sober living facility on the church’s property in southeast Ocala? Share your comments below or write a letter to the editor.
The Ocala City Council regularly meets on the first and third Tuesday of every month at 4 p.m. at Ocala City Hall (110 SE Watula Avenue).
UPDATE: This story was updated to reflect the existing church at the site, which was not previously denoted in city records.