OCALA, FL (352today.com) – How Marion County grows and develops over the next 25 years is taking shape after commissioners unanimously approved a key planning report during a public hearing on June 17.

The Marion County Board of County Commissioners voted 5-0 to adopt the Evaluation and Appraisal Report (EAR) for the county’s comprehensive plan and authorized staff to submit it to the State of Florida.

An EAR is required by state law every seven years to determine whether the county’s comprehensive plan needs to be updated to reflect changes in state requirements since the last revision, said Ken Weyrauch, Marion County growth services deputy director.

The comprehensive plan serves as the county’s blueprint for land use, housing, transportation, and infrastructure. Revising it ensures Marion County keeps pace with population growth while protecting natural resources.

The county engaged the public throughout the process with board and community workshops, as well as an online survey created by Kimley-Horn. The survey ran from May 31, 2024, to Jan. 2, 2025, and received 668 responses, though no demographic or location data was collected.

The top three themes from the survey:

  • Promote sustainable and strategic growth

  • Enhance transportation infrastructure and connectivity

  • Preserve and enhance rural and natural landscapes

The EAR found that 13 of the comprehensive plan’s 14 elements need updates. Only the property rights element remains unchanged except for adjusting the year from 2035 to 2050.

Elements to be revised include:

Future land use, housing, transportation, sanitary sewer, potable water, solid waste, stormwater, aquifer recharge, conservation, recreation and open space, intergovernmental coordination, capital improvements, and economic development.

“On January 28, 2025, we submitted the year letter to Florida Commerce and on Feb. 3, 2025, we received a letter from Florida Commerce acknowledging our submission giving us a due date for the proposed amendments of Jan. 20, 2026,” said Weyrauch.

The evaluation and appraisals report is the analysis process the county has already gone through, according to Mounir Bouyounes, Marion County administrator. Tuesday’s public hearing was required by the state in order to release grant funding supporting the county’s planning efforts.

Final plan amendments are expected to be submitted to the state by the end of the year.

 

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