County wins $20 million AZ Ocala Ranch lawsuit
The BOCC denied a 2017 land-use amendment and zoning change request for a proposed 5,400 homes, two golf courses and more at the southwest end of SR 200.

[Photo from Marion County Government Website]
County staff expressed cautious relief at the summary judgment for the lawsuit brought against Marion County by AZ Ocala Ranch, LLC, following the denial of a 5,400-home and golf course development on the far south end of Southwest State Road 200 in 2017.
“I think that would be a win, to use that term,” County Attorney Guy Minter said. “The court entered a final summary judgment in favor of the county.”
The judgment came after nearly seven years of court wrangling. The initial lawsuit—filed under the Bert Harris Jr. Private Property Rights Act—allows landowners to sue for losses due to improper government action, in this case a land-use change denial. The case was filed in late 2017 and mediation between the developers and county failed.
The summary judgment from Judge Gary L. Sanders read in part, “…because the PUD zoning had a density 28 times higher than the density permitted by the RL district, the Board’s denial of the PUD zoning was consistent with the RL district,” the county is entitled to the judgment in its favor.
“The BCC decision to deny the Zoning Application was consistent with the as adopted Comprehensive Plan then in existence,” the judgment stated.
AZ Ocala Ranch case started in 2017
The original application for the project was denied in July 2017 when the Marion County Board of County Commissioners denied the Comprehensive Plan land-use change from rural to PUD and general agricultural zoning, consistent with pastureland and farm-type usages. The suit noted that zoning had been in effect prior to 1995 and before the current owners purchased the property.
The scale of this project was considerably more than other recent developments that the BOCC has approved or denied in the past few years. In addition to 5,400 homes, the project proposed two golf courses, some commercial development, two recreational centers with various amenities and assisted living facilities to serve the 55+ community.
“Nothing of this significance or damages,” Minter said, has been brought against the county since an early 2010s suit brought by Compost USA.
The case can still be appealed until June 20.
“It’s still possible that they will file an appeal to the appellate court,” Minter said.” It may go on a while longer. With a company like this, a family-owned business, they have quite a bit of financial backing. They’ve been at it for six and half years; it’s possible.”
Potential lawsuits still possible
This judgment won’t stop other parties from filing suits if the BOCC denies future projects.
“They have good reason to be worried about litigation,” Minter said. “Land use law is complicated, and for years the state legislature has enacted a series of new protections for property rights. The Bert Harris Jr. Private Property Rights Act (started) in 1994, and there wasn’t much action under it, but more recently there’s been more activity under the act. It’s something the board definitely has to be aware of.”
Minter said as more local and regional attorneys make use of the act, more potential lawsuits could be filed. The BOCC has to balance its government power and controls to protect the community versus the private property rights of landowners, he explained.
A total dollar figure for the costs to the county are not yet been tabulated, said Minter, but would include the in-house legal staff time for Minter and the county paralegals; court costs and fees; and costs for depositions, court reporters and expert witnesses.