The Ocala City Council is scheduled to issue a final vote on Tuesday for a request to develop 592 homes as the last phase of Heath Brook.
The council will review the request for the Mockingbird Ridge development during its regular meeting on Tuesday, May 5, at 4 p.m.
The project, spearheaded by Mockingbird Ridge, LLC, involves rezoning 283.55 acres located west of Interstate 75 and north of SW 66th Street from a Planned Unit Development to a unified Planned Development. The site represents one of the last major undeveloped portions of the Heath Brook community, which was originally established in 1999.
The property is bordered by established residential developments to the north, south, and west, with I-75 forming the eastern boundary.
Although current city standards for low intensity land use typically require a minimum of three units per acre, Mockingbird Ridge proposes a lower density of approximately 2.1 units per acre. City staff notes that this density is consistent with the vested rights of the original Heath Brook master plan. The development plan includes 592 single-family lots with a minimum width of 50 feet.
The developer is also requesting a variation to the city’s standard open space requirements to maintain 25 percent open space, or approximately 70.59 acres, rather than the 40 percent typically required for single-use residential developments. The applicant’s agent, Fred Roberts Jr., clarified that these 70 acres will be reserved for amenities specifically for residents of the development.
To manage infrastructure and community impact, the primary access for the neighborhood will be centered around SW 40th Avenue, which will eventually bisect the development and provide a connection to SW 66th Street. An additional access point is planned along Tartan Road, also known as SW 60th Street Road.
Additionally, the applicant has updated the plan to include a specific buffer type to address potential encroachments from fences and landscaping in an adjoining residential development. Municipal utilities are already available at the location, and the city has mandated that it will provide all sanitation services for the new community.
While the proposal faced some earlier opposition from local residents regarding traffic and wildlife habitats, the Ocala Planning and Zoning Commission voted six to zero in March to recommend approval.
Last month, the requests had their first reading and were introduced to the Ocala City Council.
In addition to the resolution and rezoning request, during Tuesday’s meeting, a petition to establish the community will also be heard by the council.
What are your thoughts on the Mockingbird Ridge proposal and the continued expansion of the Heath Brook area? Share your comments below or, if you have more to say, write a letter to the editor.