A major mixed-use development that could transform over 251 acres in southwest Ocala into a hub of residential, commercial, and recreational activity with the addition of over 2,000 residences, is heading for a final vote before the Ocala City Council this week.
The project, spearheaded by KAS Ocala, LLC, will ask the council during its regular meeting on Tuesday, May 5, to rezone vacant land in the 3000 and 4000 blocks of SW 43rd Court from its current Office Park and Planned Unit Development designations into a single, unified Planned Development.
If the final ordinances and resolution associated with the project are approved, the development will introduce a high-density mix of housing types to the area across four primary sections.
Over 100 acres are designated for residential use, which allows for a maximum of 1,809 units that may include a combination of single-family and multi-family residences.
Approximately 65.63 acres of the site will be dedicated to residential, single-family units, allowing for up to 328 homes with a maximum density of five units per acre.
Another flexible 28.13-acre commercial/residential section provides for either 140 single-family units, 506 multi-family units, or up to 306,335 square feet of commercial and office space.
Finally, 54.70 acres are slated for exclusive cmmercial use, featuring nearly 600,000 square feet of retail, office, and recreational space, including potential uses such as a sportsplex or an outdoor event venue.
The project has undergone rigorous review by both local and state officials as it nears its final buildout. The Florida Department of Transportation previously noted that the development could adversely impact major transportation facilities, including State Road 200, State Road 40, and Interstate 75.
While the department did not formally object, officials have requested ongoing coordination as traffic studies progress.
Local residents have also voiced concerns regarding urban sprawl and the loss of wooded buffers, prompting several protective measures to be integrated into the final plan.
The developer is proposing 30-foot landscape buffers along the northern and southern boundaries, which exceeds the standard 10-foot requirement. To protect the privacy of adjacent single-family homes, a 100-foot-wide area along the northern and southern boundaries will limit building heights to a maximum of 35 feet.
Additionally, the applicant has agreed to install an opaque fence within the perimeter landscape buffer, specifically along the northern boundary adjacent to the Bear Track Ranch subdivision.
The next Ocala City Council meeting, where the final vote and public hearing will take place, is scheduled for Tuesday, May 5, at Ocala City Hall at 4 p.m. The council regularly meets on the first and third Tuesday of each month.
What is your opinion on the scale of this new development in southwest Ocala? Share your thoughts in the comments below or, if you have more to say, write a letter to the editor.