OCALA, FL (352Today.com) – On Tuesday, July 21, 2026, the Ocala City Council approved a request to rezone roughly three acres in the 2800 block of SW 20th Street from multi-family residential to institutional zoning to allow expansion of an existing preschool.
The ordinance appeared on the consent agenda and was not pulled for discussion. A second reading and potential final adoption is scheduled for the Aug. 4, 2026, city council meeting.
The applicant, Z&T Partners LLC, is seeking to rezone the northern 1.19 acres of parcel 23472-001-00 and all of parcel 23472-004-00 (approximately 1.79 acres) from R-3, Multi-Family Residential, to INST, Institutional. The total area is about 2.99 acres at 2781 SW 20th Street and the northern portion of 2801 SW 20th Street.
Public Information Officer for the City of Ocala, Greg Davis, said the applicant cited expansion of the existing school as the reason for the request. The rezoning would also allow other uses permitted in the Institutional district, including churches, daycares and certain healthcare facilities.
“The applicant mentioned the expansion of the existing school. However, the rezoning will allow all permitted uses within the INST zoning district,” Davis said.
According to Davis, the school, Amazing Kids World Academy, has held a city Business Tax Receipt since at least 2014. It operates entirely on the southern, B-2 (Community Business) portion of the property, where educational uses are allowed by right. The proposed rezoning applies only to the northern R-3 portion, which currently includes a single-family house and undeveloped land. Davis said city staff does not know plans for the single-family house. Under Institutional zoning, a single-family dwelling is permitted only as an accessory use when tied to a school or place of worship.
The southern portion of the larger parcel will remain zoned B-2. Any future development would require a site plan and either combining the lots or recording a cross-access agreement, according to Davis.
Because SW 20th Street is already operating above its adopted Level of Service, a traffic impact analysis will be required during the site-plan process. A full traffic study would be needed if the project generates 100 or more net new afternoon peak-hour trips.
City staff recommended approval with no conditions. Future development would be reviewed through the normal site-plan process.
The Planning and Zoning Commission heard the case June 8.