OCALA, FL (352today.com) – The Marion County Board of County Commissioners held a planning and zoning public hearing Wednesday, March 18, 2026, and unanimously approved all five agenda items, including a comprehensive plan large-scale text amendment request made by Golden Ocala Equestrian Land, LLC, a comprehensive plan large-scale map amendment and a zoning change to the Marion County land development code, amending two existing planned unit development projects and combining them into an indoor/outdoor sports complex and event venue facility.

Also approved at the second of two public hearings was a second amendment to a developer agreement between Marion County, Florida and Golden Ocala Equestrian Land, LLC.

The first item was the text amendment to the comprehensive plan proposal to change the World Equestrian Center future land use designation definition. The proposal was to add in a reference that would allow sporting facilities, such as softball fields, soccer fields, indoor/outdoor arenas and other recreational uses, said Chris Rison, Marion County growth services senior planner.

The Florida Commerce Department did have an objection to the text amendment.  They were concerned about the lack of demonstrated data and analysis and had some recommendations regarding it, said Rison.

The developer provided a supporting analysis and included a letter from Marion County utilities that notes that the county does have availability and capacity to serve that project.

However, the state raised the question regarding how service extensions would be provided. The county noted with their regulations, the extension of those services into, through and throughout that project would be the obligation of the developer and not Marion County.

Assessments and evaluations 

At the time of transmittal of the amendment last summer, there wasn’t an active traffic study for the project, only approved methodology. The county had their West Marion traffic study that had been conducted and was submitted to the state with the request. The state noted, however, that a more specified traffic analysis had been completed in February 2026 and has been reviewed. The study did identify some limited deficiencies, primarily considering SR 40. But Marion County, is currently in the process of working with the Florida Department of Transportation to make significant changes to the traffic network in the area.

There are projects that are being funded by the county’s capital improvements element and by the FDOT: the widening of SW 80th Ave. and NW 80th Ave., the creation of the new NW 49th segment east-to-west from 225A and NW 44th Ave, and the new interstate interchange at 49th St. for NW 49th St. The county’s proposal was these activities will adequately address the concerns that have been raised and in addition the county has the developer’s agreement that’s running concurrently with these requests, which will specify a timeframe for them to submit a formal development agreement amendment for an additional change to fully address how a proportionate share would be assessed for their project, in the event that the traffic pictures all change before that deadline, said Rison. The deadline is eight months from March 18, 2026.

From an analysis standpoint related to the text amendment, county staff noted that the current WEC land use designation definition accommodates indoor and outdoor venues for equestrian sport activities, and both indoor and outdoor venues have accommodated other events. This would enable sports field facilities, as both indoor and outdoor venues as well, to accommodate other events using the multi-purpose capacity of the facilities, similar to the existing WEC facility locations.

The additional sport activities would broaden and increase the opportunities to use the site’s existing and already planned facilities, hotels, restaurants, supporting retail and office; WEC already allows those kind of uses, but at a lower floor ratio and a lower intensity, and wants increased opportunities for expanding the single-use aspect of the current facility while supporting and establishing a campus effect for the overall site between the different varying facilities. The change was proposed solely for that portion of the project that is within the urban growth boundary, in the urban area, and not to take place in the rural areas that are WEC-designated, said Rison.

The text amendments, from county staff’s prior response, are sufficiently limited, and would be restricted to development once it’s proposed, and county staff is working on different projects and activities. This is reflective of the policy change for the Golden Ocala overall development comprehensive plan. The developer did provide their supporting analysis. Water and sewer service is available. The traffic impact improvements that staff is currently preparing are said to be more than sufficient to address the needs. Staff recommended approval of all of the agenda items as did the county’s planning and zoning commission.

Music to my ears 

The commission unanimously adopted the final proposed version of the second amendment to the developer agreement for Golden Ocala. It was adopted as is with the exception of paragraph 3.4.1, which limits the number of concert uses for all the facilities at WEC to eight per year. That limit may be increased based on operation experience and traffic conditions if accepted by the county engineer and the county administrator. The map will dictate where the concerts can be held.

The comprehensive plan large-scale map amendment and a zoning change to the Marion County land development code would combine two existing planned unit development projects into an indoor/outdoor sports complex and event venue facility on an approximately 250-acre area. It’s the area located at the southern boundary of SR 40 about a half mile west of SW 80th Ave. The proposal was to take that area to an additional World Equestrian Center land use designation. The site is located inside the urban growth boundary and has an urban land use designation. The land use change for the 250 acres from low residential to World Equestrian Center would be a southwestern extension of that land use designation, that currently fronts on SW 80th and it will now extend down to SR 40.

The Farmland Preservation Area boundary is a half mile to the west of the area where the land use change was being proposed. The Farmland Preservation Area lands to the south are across SR 40, which is a 200-foot right-of-way.

For this request, the state did raise an objection for the lack of demonstrated public facilities, in relation to that what they brought forward was water and sewer, transportation and capital improvements, said Rison. Marion County utilities said that service capacities are available and can be provided. For transportation, the developer did provide the traffic impact analysis. The Golden Ocala Development is an existing mixed-use development–this will simply increase the mixed-use opportunities, potentially creating emphasis on state, regional and national facility opportunities, not just for equestrian but other events as well. Staff recommended approval of the request for the comprehensive plan land use change from low residential to World Equestrian Center.

County staff received the traffic impact analysis, approved the study and also received a parking study that has likewise been approved. However, there’s a traffic demand management study that’s still in review, said Steven Cohoon, Marion County engineer.

The applicant submitted an extensive supporting data analysis package. They prepared three traffic studies and worked with county staff concerning revisions to the second amendment to the development agreement and the same with revised PUD conditions. A noise analysis was conducted, and the developer did a significant amount of work to address the commission’s concern, said the Applicant Jimmy Gooding, Gooding & Batsel, PLLC.

It’s for the kids 

The sports complex will allow athletes, especially those who are competing at a higher level, and wish to play collegiately, to not have to travel as much or as far, by creating a hub where they can play and have that pathway to the next level. WEC has partnered with soccer’s Florida Premier FC, to create a pathway from 18 months of age to 18 years of age. From 18 months old to age eight, they have a program called Happy Feet, as well as the Rec Plus Program, where kids can begin developing their skills and evolving as athletes, said Wyatt Stephens, WEC sports director.

The reason this felt like the right option for WEC, is as soon as an athlete signs up for Rec Plus, they’re working with a professional coach. The kids who sign up for Rec Plus will be getting the same type of training as the kids on a competitive team, said Stephens. The cost to join the program is affordable, and they’ve seen significant growth in a short period of time with more than 100 players signed up in the Happy Feet program in two weeks, and nearly 130 in the Rec Plus program. Novi Maric, the Florida Premier FC CEO also spoke before the commission.

“The kids that are signed up and have higher aspirations, they can get the training to make that transition possible,” said Stephens, who said that this is for the community and the kids. WEC held free clinics the past two Fridays, with more than 100 kids attending. This Friday will be the last free clinic of the month.

Position and perspective

There was considerable pushback to the amendments, with residents objecting to the proximity of the project to the Farmland Preservation Area, the impact to the area’s rural character, an increase in traffic and disturbances that would come from lighting and noise. There was also the argument that the sports complex and concerts have nothing to do with equestrian activities.

“Ms. Weber and her family have operated a 4,300-acre horse farm for over 50 years, right across SR 40 from this proposal,” said Scott McLaren, an attorney with Hill Ward Henderson, who was representing Charlotte Weber and the Charlotte Weber revocable trust. “We’ve heard much about traffic on SR 40, the fact that there are certain proposals that are yet to be approved, Even the staff has talked about how there has to be more study and analysis of SR 40 and the traffic, prior to finalization and this facility opening for final approval. We think it’s premature for this commission to consider and approve. Ms. Weber strongly objects to the approval of any of these items, and requests denial. Quite frankly, this is a ready, fire, aim proposal.”

McLaren didn’t believe that the analysis was complete and that there’s still a lot of work to be done, with respect to the traffic and infrastructure issues that the State of Florida raised in response to the application. A number of the road projects and improvements wouldn’t be able to begin until they were approved by the Florida Department of Transportation, he argued.

“How can this board consider and approve this application, when the applicant hasn’t even applied for the DOT to make any of these improvements that they admit are necessary for this traffic to not be a problem to meet county standards,” said McLaren, who also objected to the alterations, changes and modifications to the PUD. “Overall, it’s incompatible, there’s no question, with the surrounding uses.”

The application was opposed for three primary reasons. The first points out the changed applications for WEC have nothing to do with horses or equine-related activities, said Busy Shires, Horse Farms Forever director of conservation. The second concern was about the buffers, with the equestrian estates meant to serve as a buffer between WEC and the Farmland Preservation Area. The third reason was the concerts.

However, many people spoke in support of the sports complex, and how it would provide not only an exceptional facility to play at but would cut down on travel for players at various levels, so they wouldn’t have to go so far.