'I hate this project': City Council tables proposed apartment complex in SW Ocala

A proposed 96-unit apartment complex in southwest Ocala has been put on hold for now after the City Council expressed concerns about the project's design, presentation and concept.

During Tuesday's regularly scheduled council meeting, several residents spoke passionately against the project. In the end, council President Barry Mansfield, Pro Tem Kristen Dreyer and members Ire Bethea, Jim Hilty and Jay Musleh all agreed the issue should be tabled until the June 18 meeting. Dreyer led the charge.

"I hate this project," Dreyer told lawyer Jimmy Gooding, of Gooding & Batsel, who represents the applicant, Lee Ray Bergman, LLC. Her comment drew applause from the more than three dozen residents in attendance from Hunt Club at Fox Point, the subdivision next to the property in question.

Hilty said: "It's like putting lipstick on a pig."

Mayor Ben Marciano said he doesn't like the proposal, telling Gooding and representatives of the apartment complex: "There's a lot of work (that) needs to be done." The mayor said he would veto the project if it came to him.

Though the mayor doesn't have a vote, if an ordinance passed by the council comes to the mayor, he has 10 days to veto it. If he does nothing, then the ordinance passes. If he vetoes the measure, then it returns to the council, which can override the mayor's veto if there are at least four of five votes. When the mayor vetoes an ordinance, he usually writes a letter explaining his decision.

Mansfield said he's a developer and he doesn't think those connected to the project did a good job showcasing their project.

Mansfield urged the development group to heed the residents' concerns. Mansfield wanted to sit in meetings between the residents and the developer, but was told he could not do that due to city rules.

Property background

According to city documents, the 10.2 acres in question are located at the northeast and southeast corners of Southwest 60th Avenue and 43rd Street Road.

According to a report from city staff, the land originally was part of the Hunt Club at Fox Point Westwood subdivision planned unit development, or PUD, which was approved for 168 units. Phase 1 called for 42 single-family homes, while Phase 2 had future development of 126 multi-family dwelling units.

"Upon annexation (from the county into the city) and receiving land use," the report says, the city said no more than 96 dwelling units would be allowed. Also, the property must be developed as a PUD and a traffic study must be completed.

In presenting the plan for the 96-unit apartment complex, Gooding told council a traffic study was conducted and it showed the proposed apartment complex would not negatively affect area traffic.

While Musleh agreed to continue looking at the project, he noted that the city already has made an agreement with the land owner and it would not look good for the municipality to change the deal now.

Residents have their say

Residents who live in that area gave council members multiple reasons why they're not in favor of the plan.

For starters, they say the apartment complex would not be compatible with their community. Second, they said the complex would devalue their homes.

Third, they say the current plan, which features one entrance and exit, is insufficient. Fourth, they don't want to be forced to drive through the apartment complex to access their homes.

Fifth, they said traffic in the area is already bad and it won't improve with the addition of an apartment complex. Sixth, they prefer a development that features owner-occupied properties, not apartment renters.

Gooding pushed back, noting there are several parts of town where apartments are mixed with single-family residences. He also noted that the complex, which will feature many amenities, would not be low-income housing and that the land in question is suitable for this type of project. City staff also recommended approval of the plan.

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His comments were greeted with jeers from the residents.

Council was asked to consider approving a zoning change from no zoning to Planned Development (PD) and to approve the proposed the PD Plan with Design Standards.

In the end, council members suggested the development team re-do its plan. Council members then decided to postpone voting on the measure.

Contact Austin L. Miller at austin.miller@starbanner.com

This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Apartment complex slated for SW Ocala on hold for now