A real estate investment group is looking to annex over 80 acres of former mining land into the Ocala city limits to facilitate the construction of a new planned residential development.
The Ocala Planning and Zoning Commission will review the proposed project during its next regular meeting on Tuesday, May 26, at 5:30 p.m. at Ocala City Hall (110 SE Watula Avenue).
The subject property, which is located at 5575 SW 52nd Street, currently sits in unincorporated Marion County and spans approximately 82.40 acres. Under its current county zoning, the property is designated for general agriculture and high residential future land use (allowing up to eight units per acre).
The property was acquired in July 2024 by Ocala 52 Partners, LLC. Now, represented by Tillman & Associates Engineering, LLC, the developers are concurrently requesting to annex the property into the city limits, change its future land use to “Low Intensity,” and rezone the parcel to a Planned Development (PD).
As part of the proposed Planned Development layout, the developer intends to preserve both the lake and the pond, integrating them into the site’s design as amenities and drainage retention areas. Under the requested Low Intensity designation, the developer would be permitted an urban-level development density of up to 7.16 units per acre.
City records show the massive parcel was utilized for the mining of earth and other minerals until 2022. Following the discontinuation of the mining operations, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) issued a Release of Reclamation Obligations, recognizing that reclamation activities were completed on the property.
Currently, the largely vacant land features a 6.7-acre lake at its southern end, a 16,000-square-foot pond at its northeastern corner, several small structures, and a septic system.
According to a staff report, city officials recommend approving both the annexation and the future land use change, as the requests are consistent with the city’s comprehensive plan and adjacent land uses.
In exchange for city annexation, the developer will be required to remove the existing small structures and the septic system from the property. Furthermore, the city stipulates that all existing agricultural uses must cease within one year of the zoning approval or before any future development begins on the site.
If the annexation is approved, the developer will be required to connect the future project to city public facilities. While city utilities are currently available near the site, city staff notes that there are currently no connection points for sanitary sewer lines within the right-of-way on SW 52nd Street. Therefore, the developer will be required to connect the sewer lines to the existing infrastructure to the north, within the Fore Ranch development.
The Planning and Zoning Commission acts in an advisory capacity. Any recommendations or approvals made by the commission during the May 26 meeting will be forwarded to the Ocala City Council for a final vote at an upcoming regular meeting.