Submitted By: Breah J Miller
presenter
Presentation By: Breah J Miller
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Department: Growth Management
STAFF RECOMMENDATION (Motion Ready):
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Ordinance to rezone from G-U, Governmental Use, to B-1, Neighborhood Business, for a property located at 1501 NW 14th Street (Parcel 25571-000-00), approximately 3.23 acres (Case ZON26-0006) (Quasi-Judicial)
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OCALA’S RELEVANT STRATEGIC GOALS:
Quality of Place.
PROOF OF PUBLICATION:
N/A
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BACKGROUND:
• Petitioner and Property Owner: Generations Broadcasting Corp.
Key Points:
The applicant is requesting to rezone parcel 25571-000-00 from G-U, Governmental Use, to B-1, Neighborhood Business.
The current G-U zoning designation for privately owned property has incorrectly been maintained. The issue has remained unknown through the years, most likely through no changes to the property that would have provided the opportunity for staff to identify the zoning issue sooner. As a result of recent development inquiries from the property owner, the zoning issue was brought to light. Therefore, the proposed rezoning from G-U to B-1 will provide the property with an appropriate zoning district that recognizes the privately owned use of the property. Further, the proposed B-1 zoning will provide consistency with the City of Ocala Comprehensive Plan and Code of Ordinances.
Zoning and Land Use Factors for Consideration:
• The subject property is located at the northeast corner of NW Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue and NW 14th Street and is currently developed with a radio broadcast antenna and ancillary equipment room.
• The property was annexed into the City of Ocala in 1964 and has historically operated as a communications site since the utility building and antenna were constructed in 1975. The radio tower was reconstructed in 2003.
• Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue was expanded to accommodate 4-lanes, before the time of expansion an appraisal was done of the subject property. The appraisal notes that the property would be required to be rezoned as G-U is not permitted for privately owned property.
FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS:
• The proposed rezoning to B-1, Neighborhood Business will provide a correction to the current G-U, Governmental Use zoning district designation for the property which has been incorrectly maintained for property not owned by a governmental entity.
• The proposed rezoning is consistent with the Neighborhood Future Land Use designation and is permitted pursuant to Section 122-244 of the Code of Ordinances.
• The proposed B-1, Neighborhood Business district is intended to accommodate neighborhood-serving commercial uses at an intensity compatible with surrounding residential development.
• The subject property is located within an established neighborhood consisting of residential, institutional, and undeveloped properties, and the proposed zoning district is compatible with the surrounding development pattern.
• The proposed rezoning establishes specific development standards, including minimum lot area and maximum building height requirements, which promote compatibility with adjacent properties.
• The subject property is served by existing public infrastructure and utilities, including transportation, potable water, sanitary sewer, solid waste, and electric service. Adequate public facilities exist to support future and existing development.
• The affected roadway segment currently operates above the adopted Level of Service standard, and the proposed rezoning is not anticipated to create deficiencies in adopted Level of Service standards.
• Future development of the property will be subject to additional review during the site plan review process
Staff recommends approval.
FISCAL IMPACT:
N/A
PROCUREMENT REVIEW:
N/A
LEGAL REVIEW:
The ordinance is pending review by the City Attorney, William E. Sexton.
ALTERNATIVE:
• Approve with changes.
• Deny
• Table
SUPPORT MATERIALS:
• P&Z Staff Report
• Case Map
• Aerial Map
ORDINANCE 2026-XX
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE ZONING MAP OF THE CITY OF OCALA, FLORIDA, CHANGING THE ZONING REZONE FROM G-U, GOVERNMENTAL USE, TO B-1, NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESS, FOR CERTAIN PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1501 NW 14TH STREET (PARCEL 25571-000-00), APPROXIMATELY 3.23 ACRES (CASE NO. ZON26-0006); PROVIDING DIRECTION TO STAFF; REPEALING INCONSISTENT AND/OR CONFLICTING PROVISIONS; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY OF ORDINANCE PROVISIONS; PROVIDING FOR MODIFICATIONS ARISING FROM CONSIDERATIONS AT A PUBLIC HEARING; PROVIDING DIRECTION TO THE CODIFIER; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF OCALA, FLORIDA, in regular
session, as follows:
Section 1. The lands described below are hereby rezoned and reclassified according to the zoning regulation of the City of Ocala, Florida, as B-1, Neighborhood Business:
S 430 FT OF W 395 FT OF SW 1/4 OF NW 1/4
LESS FOLLOWING PORTION:
COM AT W 1/4 COR OF SEC 7 TH N 00-19-42 E 22 FT TH N 89-41-49 E 50 FT
TO INTERSECTION OF E ROW LINE OF MARTIN LUTHERKING JR AVE & N ROW
LINE OF NW 14TH ST POINT BEING POB; TH N 00-19-42E 16.69 FT TH
S 54-51-03 E 28.78 FT TO N ROW LINE OF NW 14TH ST TH S 89-41-49 W 23.63 FT TO POB.
Section 2. Direction to Staff. The City Council of the City of Ocala, Florida directs staff to take any and all steps necessary to effectuate the adoption and implementation of this ordinance; and all other matters as provided for above and herein as well as to ensure the orderly and effective administration and implementation of the intent of this ordinance and the specific matters outlined herein.
Section 3. Repealing Inconsistent and/or Conflicting Provisions. The City Council of the City of Ocala, Florida hereby specifically repeals, to the extent of any such conflict, any and all ordinances, resolutions, policies, procedures, and/or other articles which are conflicting and/or inconsistent with this ordinance and the intent and direction provided by the City Council herein.
Section 4. Severability of Ordinance Provisions. If any section, phrase, sentence or portion of this ordinance is for any reason held invalid or unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction, it is the intent of the City Council of the City of Ocala, Florida that (1) such portion shall be deemed a separate, distinct and independent provision; (2) such holding shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions hereof; and (3) this ordinance be adopted as though any such provision was not included herein.
Section 5. Modifications Arising from Consideration at a Public Hearing. It is the intention of the City Council of the City of Ocala, Florida that (1) the provisions of this ordinance may be modified as a result of its consideration by the City Council of matters that may arise during the public hearing(s) at which this ordinance is considered; and (2) any such modifications shall be incorporated into the final version of this ordinance.
Section 6. Direction to the Codifier. It is the intention of the City Council of the City of Ocala, Florida that (1) the zoning map of the City of Ocala is hereby amended to reflect the change in zoning classification from G-U, Governmental Use, to B-1, Neighborhood Business, as to lands described in Section 1 of this ordinance; (2) the sections and paragraphs of this ordinance may be renumbered or relettered in order to accomplish said intention; (3) terms or headings not affecting the intent of this ordinance may be changed to further accomplish said intention; and (4) any scrivener’s error(s) contained herein which do not affect the intent of this ordinance be corrected with the authorization of the City Manager or their designee and without the need for additional public hearings or consideration by City Council.
Section 7. This ordinance shall become effective upon approval by the mayor, or upon becoming law without such approval.
ATTEST: CITY OF OCALA
By: By:
Angel B. Jacobs Ire J. Bethea, Sr.
City Clerk President, Ocala City Council
Approved/Denied by me as Mayor of the City of Ocala, Florida, on __________________, 2026.
By: __________________________________
Ben Marciano
Mayor
Approved as to form and legality:
By: _________________________________
William E. Sexton
City Attorney
Ordinance No: 2026-XX
Introduced: Click or tap to enter a date.
Adopted: Click or tap to enter a date.
Legal Ad No: Click or tap here to enter text.