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File #: 2026-0651   
Type: Ordinance Status: Agenda Ready
File created: 1/21/2026 In control: City Council
On agenda: 2/3/2026 Final action:
Title: Ordinance 2026-5 to amend the Code of Ordinances, City of Ocala, Florida, Section 122-1225 to authorize the use of above-ground air curtain burners as an ancillary use to a materials recovery facility as well as establishing conditions and limitations relating to such ancillary use (COD25-0004); Postponed from January 6, 2026 City Council meeting
Introduced By: James P. Hilty Sr
Attachments: 1. COMPARISON - Final Reading and First Reading Ordinance, 2. COD25-0004 First Reading Ordinance, 3. COD25-0004 First Reading Redlined Ordinance, 4. USDA Forest Service Emissions Evaluation Report_Air Curtain Destructors
Date Action ByMotionResultAction DetailsMeeting DetailsVideo
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Submitted By: Emily W. Johnson
presenter
Presentation By: Jeff Shrum
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Department: Growth Management

OFFICIAL TITLE (Motion Ready):
title
Ordinance 2026-5 to amend the Code of Ordinances, City of Ocala, Florida, Section 122-1225 to authorize the use of above-ground air curtain burners as an ancillary use to a materials recovery facility as well as establishing conditions and limitations relating to such ancillary use (COD25-0004); Postponed from January 6, 2026 City Council meeting
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OCALA'S RELEVANT STRATEGIC GOALS:
Economic Hub, Quality of Place

PROOF OF PUBLICATION:
N/A

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* Applicant: Friends Recycling, LLC
* Agent: Fred N. Roberts, Jr., Esq., Klein & Klein, PLLC
STAFF UPDATE - FIRST READING:
Since the request for continuance of this agenda item at the January 6, 2026, meeting, staff have worked with the applicant to modify the proposed ordinance to:
* Add minimum acreage requirement (10 acres).
* Require compliance with all applicable state, federal, and local requirements.
* Provide additional controls for use, fire prevention and suppression, emissions controls, odor, and dust through the operations plan.
* Incorporate Industrial Performance Standards into the operations plan.
* Provide for annual review of the operations plan and updated operations plan for periods of inactivity of more than six consecutive months.
* Require an annual burn permit from the City Fire Chief or designee and daily permits prior to ignition of the incinerator.
* Clarify the Building Official's determination of non-compliance and enforcement procedures for the Industrial Performance Standards and appeal through the Board of Adjustment.
The proposed ordinance has been updated with these changes. To assist in understanding the changes since the first reading, a comparison ordinance titled "Comparison - Final Reading and First Reading Ordinance" has been included in the attachments, highlighting the proposed changes.
BACKGROUND:
The applicant owns a material...

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