OCALA, FL (352today.com) – The Marion County Land Development Regulation Commission (LDRC) will hold a public hearing on proposed updates to the county’s land development code. The hearing is scheduled for March 5 at 5:30 p.m. in the McPherson Governmental Campus auditorium.

Earlier this month, the LDRC conducted a workshop to discuss possible revisions to the code. One of the key topics considered was potential limitations on the ownership and possession of dogs and cats on residential properties in unincorporated Marion County. While public comment was allowed at the workshop, there was some confusion regarding the discussion. No final decisions were made at that time. Before any amendments can be recommended, a public hearing is required.

“Now you need the definitions in the land development code, that’s what’s going through the LDRC committee,” said Chuck Varadin, Marion County growth services director. “The LDRC is a group of appointed volunteers, citizens, who are engineers, surveyors, and they’re looking at changes to the land development code, and then they make recommendations. The county’s attorney’s office has made some recommendations based on the ordinances, the definitions that need to align in the land development code, those can be enforced. They made some of the potential limitations on the number of pets, and I think that was from the board’s direction.”

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At this time, no formal action has been taken regarding the proposed updates. However, residents who have concerns will have opportunities to voice them. In addition to the LDRC public hearing on March 5, there will be two additional public hearings before the Marion County Board of County Commissioners at a later date. Once scheduled, those hearings will be posted on the Marion County website, according to Varadin.

“The public can have their voices heard, there’s public engagement, we want to encourage that,” Varadin added. “They can send an email that goes on the public record for that item. The commissioners do read them.”

According to Stacie Causey, Marion County public information specialist, the proposed animal ownership limits are based on data collected from other counties and cities that have already enacted similar regulations.

“These types of individuals, breeders, kennels, working dogs and service dogs’ type of training facilities, they should already have a special use permit based on our current land development code,” Causey explained. “It wouldn’t affect them, and we wouldn’t come and take their animals. This is where the land development code would push people who are outside of these limits to get a special use permit.”

For residents concerned about these potential changes, the upcoming public hearings provide an opportunity to have their voices heard – in a way that’s more audible than a meow or a woof.

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