People were ready for a fight. But it didn't happen.
The County Commission on Tuesday learned that a proposal to significantly rezone the land around Jumbolair in northeast Marion was withdrawn just hours before a scheduled hearing. Opponents of the plan had filled the commission chambers at the McPherson Governmental Complex, ready to voice their concerns.
Jumbolair Aviation Estates is the high-end residential community north of Ocala in the small town of Anthony. These days, it's best known as the home of John Travolta , who lives there in part because the runway is big enough to accommodate his jet.
In 2021, Robert Bull bought Jumbolair Aviation Estates (the runway, common areas and some structures, though not previously purchased properties).
Bull, on behalf of multiple property owners, sought to rezone a 449.66-acre site at/adjacent to Jumbolair from General Agriculture (A-1), Agricultural Estate (A-3), Community Business (B-2) and Light Industrial (M-1) to Planned Unit Development (PUD.) Specifically, the applicant sought permission for up to 240 single-family residential units and 30.28 acres of commercial use.
"The overall proposed density for the PUD is 0.57 dwelling units per acre within the residential area," according to a Marion County government staff report. "The PUD also proposes 140 hangars within the PUD which is on land that is separate from the residential units and further separate from the residential uses; 90 of those hangars are located within the Farmland Preservation area, and the remaining 50 hangars are located within the proposed commercial area."
The request met fierce resistance, with groups including Save Our Rural Areas , Horse Farms Forever and The Ocala Horse Alliance voicing objections. Travolta himself, through his lawyers, also complained.
“Compared to the existing low-density neighborhoods surrounding the area, Bull’s proposals would irrevocably alter the complexion of north central Marion County from a quiet, rural farmland community to a bustling airfield surrounded by dense residential development and commercial development," says the letter that Travolta's lawyers sent to the county commission.
Earlier coverage: John Travolta is not happy with developer's plan for his part of Ocala/Marion County
The applicant is free to submit a new rezoning application. Any such application would be advertised and the public would be notified and have an opportunity to be heard.
There is no waiting period for resubmission. However, there might be a de facto waiting period.
County Attorney Guy Minter noted that the county has received many letters, some from attorneys, pointing out deficiencies in the county's Land Development Code concerning the regulation of private airfields and fly-in communities. He recommended that the commission direct staff to review — and propose revisions to — the Land Development Code with the assistance of consultants who have expertise in these areas.
Minter said any such move by the commission would serve as its announcement that it is engaged in a zoning-in-progress situation. In such a circumstance, Minter said, any future applications that involve fly-in communities/private airfields would have to wait until the county got those revised regulations in place.
The commission agreed to engage in such a review of the Land Development Code.
jross@gannett.com
This article originally appeared on Ocala Star-Banner: Plan to rezone land around Jumbolair, home to John Travolta, has been withdrawn
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