After Ocala-News.com published a story with updated details about the site plan for a new Home Depot that was previously approved for southwest Ocala, several readers wrote letters to share their opinion with the editor. Here are a few of those letters:
“I am disappointed that a Home Depot is scheduled for this particular site. Having one in south Marion County is good, but this is a highly used area already and residents in On Top of the World use this road for golf carts to get the Publix, banks, shops, restaurants and soon HCA urgent care. Has there been consideration of the safety of these folks. Are they going to put in a walking/golf path as part of the arrangement? OTOW is a beautiful community and having all this traffic sure sets it apart from tranquil.” – Donna Sherman, Ocala
“I completely agree with the other writers regarding growth. Our public officials continue to approve huge developments without regard to the infrastructure. Traffic has become a nightmare. Driving on 200 is like I 75. We have streets full of potholes that need resurfacing. Please pause the approval of more developments until you provide the infrastructure to handle it. Maybe you don’t realize we have a water problem. Get your head out of the sand and learn how to say no.” – Marlin Echols, Ocala
“I am a resident of the retirement community but my home is not in the neighborhood directly bordering the Home Depot. I feel it’s utterly irresponsible to build something of this magnitude right in the backyards of all those residents. We don’t want nor need this Home Depot and the Marion County Commissioners don’t care what they approve, not taking into consideration people’s livelihoods. An apartment complex was already scrubbed and that should have set a precedent. Ocala was a beautiful town where rolling hills dotted the country roads with serene horse farms, but now, those farms are being destroyed for anything commercial. Another concern is the traffic issue, it will be unbearable, but that concerns no one that could make a difference and stop the Home Depot from being built! They’re just lining their pockets, they should be ashamed of themselves! This incessant building has to stop! Ocala is going to turn into a concrete jungle, sections of Marion County already have! There, I’ve said my piece.” – Margaret Koller, Ocala
“What is wrong with this town and county? Does anyone understand traffic patterns or zoning buffers or anything to do with planning and zoning? This is absolutely the worst place for a Home Depot. Actually, I believe it is a slap in the face to the people who fought against the previously proposed apartment complex. For pete sake, can you approve something that actually fits and makes sense for a particular property. You absolutely need a new planning department. Preferably someone who stands up to these over zealous developers. How much building can be on top of one another. Where is the green space? Jokes on us!” – Paul Fagan, Ocala
“Has the County given any thought of locating the new Home Depot off of SW 60TH Avenue? There is plenty of land available near where they are building the new BJ’S Wholesale Club.” – Steven Colo, Ocala
“I did not see any provision for golf cart paths in front of The Home Depot. I just don’t understand how we will be safe driving our golf carts from On Top of the World to Publix when we will have 18 wheelers coming and going, plus all the car traffic. I see accidents waiting to happen.” – William Bachmann, Ocala
“Marion County overdevelopment is running rampant, apparently uncontrolled by so-called county ‘commissioners’ who should instead be representing residents here. Now, the last thing we all need is another Home Depot just 3 miles from an existing one near I75 & SR 200. With the unwise blessing of Marion County, Home Depot is planning a huge commercial development jammed onto now vacant OTWO-owned property right next to the 55+ On Top Of The World (OTOW) community and the new Marriott hotel. What a terrible mistake. Senior residents from all over the USA bought here to find relative peace, safety & quiet in what was once beautiful Marion County horse country. A Home Depot project was not part of anyone’s retirement vision here. Unnecessary in this location – this kind of establishment would be much better positioned off Route 484 or SR40 / 27 near WEC, where there are numerous open, expansive properties available. Placing Home Depot at SR200 & 99th Street Road compromises traffic – already overcrowded – and compromises the expected peace & quiet senior residential buyers expected here. A Home Depot here infringes upon comfort & restful existence for OTOW residents & Mariott Springhill hotel guests adjacent to the proposed development. Situating a Home Depot in this location also ignores the fact that this area is primarily populated by aging seniors who already have enough trouble navigating to and from the Publix, Big Lots, restaurants and shops already in the area largely on the the narrow paved roads available. Sidewalks that can support pedestrian and golf cart traffic are not adequate nor seemingly planned in the proposed site plan for this Home Depot. Additionally, the intersection at SR200 and 99th Street Road was so poorly designed and is currently so misaligned it just begs for traffic accidents once traffic increases. This will be exacerbated and magnified when heavy 52-foot semi-trailers attempt to access Home Depot via 99th Street Road. This entire area is heavily trafficked by seniors, guests & family visitors of all ages in golf carts, on bikes, and on foot. The only access to local shops, banks, restaurants and grocers from OTOW is via small access roadway situated immediately through the proposed Home Depot site. Building a Home Depot near OTOW is truly needless – encouraging traffic & noise/nuisance tragedies just waiting to happen. All this could be avoided had Marion County and OTOW land managers showed some empathy, reasoning, consideration and foresight instead of sacrificing what’s left of the sanctity and peace of this part of Marion County. A much better solution would be a venue residents could enjoy & support, such as a bowling alley, theatre, ice rink, and so on. Shame on the OTOW management and Marion County Commissioners if they go through with this unnecessary development. Just say NO to Home Depot OTOW!” – David Halperin, Ocala