Development Brief: Moore RAC (Rural Activity Center) on Highway 326

Thomas R. Moore has requested a Small-Scale Future Land Use Map Series (FLUMS) amendment application to change the land use designation of a ±23.64-acres on parcel # 13002-000-00. The applicant seeks to change the Future Land Use designation from Rural Land (RL) to a Rural Activity Center (RAC) land use and rezoning from General Agriculture to RAC. [Image courtesy Marion County]

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Posted June 25, 2025 |

Location:6853 W Highway 326 just east of the NW Highway 225A (NW 70th Avenue) and 326 intersection, next to Gilbert’s Hardware.

Type of request: Thomas R. Moore has requested a Small-Scale Future Land Use Map Series (FLUMS) amendment application to change the land use designation of a ±23.64-acres on parcel # 13002-000-00. The applicant seeks to change the Future Land Use designation from Rural Land (RL) to a Rural Activity Center (RAC) land use and rezoning from General Agriculture to RAC.

# of dwelling units on # of acres: None

# of commercial/retail space: 23.64 acres of Rural Activity Center (RAC) for a conduct a Landscape Contract Yard/Farm Building Sales/Service/Storage. The proposed use will include a small building to sell accessory items and parts for products sold. The subject property is situated inside the Farmland Preservation Area and is located within the Secondary Spring’s Protection Overlay Zone (SSPOZ).

Links to application info from agenda: https://marionfl.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=7104680&GUID=1B188E66-70C4-4249-A58B-4D292281B6C2

Commissioner/council district contact: District 5, Commissioner Michelle Stone [email protected]

Affected schools and current capacities per county staff report: NA, rural commercial only

Notes of interest: The parcel is next to the current RAC at that corner, which includes Gilbert’s Hardware, a small convenience store, residential property, an unused produce/farm stand and horse farm activity. According to county property records, a 2022 mobile home residence is currently on the parcel.

Horse Farms Forever has published its formal opposition paper to the project citing the potential for “35 different types of commercial activity on the parcel, many of them very intense uses.”

Previous recommendations: This item has been continued twice previously. County staff recommended denial in in its January 2025 report, writing: “The proposal to increase to change the land use and zoning from Rural Agriculture to Rural Activity Center has the potential to allow for a very significant amount of new traffic to be generated from this site. The RAC land use and zoning allows for varying types of commercial activity. The traffic statement provided indicates that if this parcel is developed to the fullest extent allowed under the RAC uses, it could generate over 1000 peak hour trips and over 13,000 daily trips. However, the traffic generated from the proposed use will not be very significant. It is also unclear why a RAC land use and zoning are needed for the Nursery. Nurseries, both retail and wholesale, are allowed in rural agriculture areas. In addition, there is a significant amount of undeveloped land within the existing RAC and this will add significantly more land to the existing RAC.

Additionally, the staff report said, “The existing adjacent RAC area comprises nine parcels totaling approximately 73.4 acres. Within this area, the majority of the properties are utilized for agricultural production. Only two parcels, totaling approximately 7 acres, are developed for commercial uses. Overall, the RAC area remains significantly underdeveloped for its intended purposes as outlined in the Comprehensive Plan.”

Agenda item 15.1.9: The item is slated for the Marion County Planning & Zoning board that will meet at 5:30PM, Monday, June 30, 2025.