OCALA, FL (352today.com) – Several public hearings were among the agenda items heard at the Ocala City Council meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026, with unanimous votes in favor of approving a permit for beer, wine and liquor sales and a zoning change.

The first of those on the agenda concerned SunTran’s proposed budget for federal fiscal year 2025, which includes section 5307 grant funds from the Federal Transit Administration, the Florida Department of Transportation Block Grant funding, as well as total revenue credits, and local matches from the city and the county for a total budget of $6,300,562. This is an additional grant that supports operations and capital funding. SunTran currently has nine federal and state grants that are active and come up to a total of just over $26.4 million, and a significant portion of that is capital, said Tom Duncan, SunTran and City of Ocala transit administrator.

However, the agenda item at the Jan. 6 city council meeting was to seek public comment and requests only regarding the SunTran budget. There were no public comments.

A public hearing was also held to consider the issuance of a location permit for the sale of beer, wine and liquor.

The applicant, Walmart Stores East LP is requesting a new alcoholic beverage location permit to sell beer, wine and liquor for off-premises consumption at parcel 29850-001-00. A neighborhood Walmart is currently under construction with a separate and distinct liquor store. The building in total is 47,914 square feet, 95 employees are proposed, and 166 parking spaces will service the retailer. There are no churches, schools or daycares within a 500-foot radius. However, there are two establishments within a 500-foot radius that sell alcoholic beverages, Walgreens and Ocala Food Mart, which are across SE Maricamp to the Southeast. Both establishments have 2PS licenses and only sell beer and wine for off-premises consumption, said Endira Madraveren, City of Ocala growth management chief planning official.

City of Ocala Staff received feedback and approval from planning, Ocala Fire and Rescue and the Ocala Police Department. The Ocala Police Department was able to provide staff with the calls for service, said Madraveren. There were three calls in the last two years, which were self-initiated calls for security.

Staff recommended approval. City Council approved the permit request unanimously with a 5-0 vote.

Moving forward 

The final item on the agenda was a public hearing related to amending a zoning map for the City of Ocala, changing the zoning from light industrial to medium industrial for a certain property located at 2306 NW 7th St., a portion of parcel located at 22682-000-00, approximately 3.57 acres.

The applicant is requesting to rezone the 3.57-acre rear portion of the subject property from light industrial to medium industrial. The applicant owns the adjoining medium industrial zoned property to the west and is in the process of acquiring the 3.57-acre area from the current property owner. The applicant indicated their intent to utilize the site for additional outdoor storage to support their existing repair garage. The property in its entirety encompasses approximately 5.06 acres and was originally developed in the county with a single-family residence in 1940, with two additional residences constructed in 1968 and then a fourth constructed in 1970. All four residences are currently occupied and are considered non-conforming uses within the light industrial zoning district, said Emily Johnson, City of Ocala growth management senior planner.

The applicant is Mickey Truck Bodies Southeast Service Center. They currently operate on two acres, 21,000 square feet, and this would be an acquisition for expansion. This is one of six manufacturing locations that the applicant has nationwide, and they see Ocala as a major area of growth for the type of business they’re in, which is the manufacturing of truck bodies for commercial vehicles, such as trailer attachments, box truck attachments or refrigerated truck attachments, based on the significant trucking and logistics through this area. This is really a cleanup to make certain that the zoning classifications match with the properties being adjoined to, said Fred Roberts, who was representing the applicant.

The subject property has been zoned light industrial since its inception in 1975 and is currently designated as an employment center future land use category, which is intended to provide a regionally important hub for business, enterprise, research and development and employment activities. However, it was noted in the staff report, pursuant to the GIS aerial imagery, that a portion of the subject property has been historically used as outdoor storage. The northern 1.49 acres which are developed within the non-conforming single-family residences are proposed to remain light industrial as a buffer to the residential zoning located across NW 7th St., said Johnson.

The adjacent industrial developments to the west and south have medium industrial zoning. The zoning district is intended for wholesale distribution warehouse storage, outdoor storage and sales, research and development and light manufacturing of finished or semi-finished products, multiple use facilities or structures. Outdoor manufacturing is only permitted in medium industrial, with a special exception.

Staff finds that proposed rezoning is consistent with the existing employment center future land use classification with the code of ordinances. There are no additional non-conformities created. There’s no expansion to the existing non-conformities as a result of the proposed amendment. The medium industrial zoning district is compatible with the surrounding area. Adjacent properties to the south and west have existing medium industrial zoning. City utilities are available at the location, and no level of service of issues were identified for public facilities as a result of the zoning amendment, said Johnson. A proposed amendment is consistent with the city’s comprehensive plan and land development regulations.

Staff recommended approval. The city’s planning and zoning commission voted 5-0 to recommend approval at the Nov. 10, 2025, meeting.

A last-minute amendment was made to the ordinance, with the removal of a subsection to the ordinance in regard to the effective dates and it will now go through a normal effective date process, said Jeffrey Shrum, City of Ocala growth management director.

Council unanimously approved the request with a 5-0 vote.