SECO Ocala Site Plan Waiver Request

Original title: SECO Ocala - Major Site Plan 33432 - Waiver to Major Site Plan in Review Parcel #: 41200-012-00 #WaiverPIR-000409-2026 Bowman Consulting This item was tabled at the 3/16/26 meeting to the 3/30/26 meeting. The applicant requested to attend the 3/23/26 instead of the 3/30/26 meeting as their additional documents have been provided. A motion to rehear will be needed. LDC 6.7.4. Shade Trees CODE states shade trees are required for all developments excluding residential developments. A. The post-development ratio of shade trees to the area of the site shall be a minimum of one shade tree per 3,000 square feet. B. Shade trees may include: (1) Protected and preserved trees which have a favorable assessment, and/or (2) Trees as required for buffers, parking areas, vehicle use areas, and building areas, and/or (3) Trees as required as replacement trees. C. When mature trees with a full canopy of 30-foot radius or larger, with a favorable assessment, are preserved on the project site, a credit of two shade trees may be used towards the overall shade tree requirement. D. Required shade trees shall meet the minimum size requirements in Section 6.8.10.C. APPLICANT - Reduction of the shade tree requirement is requested due to the nature of the site use and the essential service the SECO facility will provide to the community. As a utility facility, large building footprints and large open pavement and grassed laydown areas are a necessity to the functionality of the operation. The essential nature of this site to the community in times of power emergency also dictates that this site must be protected from damage from hazards such as trees planted too closely to operations areas. Both of these objectives reduce the availability of space for the planting of trees. In addition, SECO has worked closely with the County and the surrounding community to reduce their impact through the SUP process, which resulted in a site plan redesign, more robust buffering around the property, and a large portion of the property preserved in open space. This results in a site plan that protects a number of very large native trees, including iconic Live Oak trees that are part of the historic horse community aesthetic, provides visual buffers from adjacent properties, and presents an appealing property frontage to passers-by on CR 475A, including a 3-rail fence and berming. Finally, in tandem with the need to plant and preserve trees, it is also appropriate to grow and maintain a tree canopy that is healthy and resilient by planting new trees at appropriate distances apart, as well as keeping new planting activities and irrigation a safe distance from existing trees. Reducing the number of trees per acre, as requested in this waiver and shown on the current proposed landscape plans, accomplishes all these goals.