At a recent Belleview City Commission meeting, Belleview’s Development Services Director provided an update on the controversial Bennah Oaks Development, where construction has commenced on several lots. Situated near the Belleview Library on Highway 484, the development is slated to include over 400 homes upon completion.
Belleview’s Development Services Director director stated, “We’ve received 34 applications from Century Communities which is the builder. We’ve issued three of those permits and the rest of them will probably be issued in the next few days or so.” Also, it was reported that Highland Homes has purchased 47 additional lots for construction. However, as of the meeting, no permit applications had been received by Belleview to initiate development on those lots.
Many locals, who are unhappy with rampant development in Marion County, sounded off on social media at the sight of more homes going up in Belleview. One resident did not mince his words, writing “What the hell. 484 is already hell for traffic. Especially by interstate. What are the officials thinking. Greed. Let’s ruin more infrastructure and our aquifer!”
The unpleasant sentiments did not end there. “Let’s also talk about how they’re building them on sinkholes,” said another Facebook user, likely referring to multiple sinkholes that have been observed on the property that is now Bennah Oaks, throughout the years.
Others focused their discontent at officials. “It’s sickening how these commissioners keep selling out to the developers. Time to vote them out!,” wrote an unhappy Marion County resident on a Voice social media thread. “All they care about is lining their pockets and could care less about what it’s doing to our town. Traffic is already horrible.”
Some upset readers channeled their anger into sarcasm. “Don’t worry! In just 21 days Marion County showboaters will all come out with a golden shovel and collectively plant 1 tree to celebrate Earth Day,” quipped a resident.
A popular theme of the comment thread was that people generally miss the rural Marion County of old, a simpler time with less traffic and congestion. “We moved from a big town to a small town in 1970 for a reason. Now our commissioners are selling us out. Soon we will be an Orlando,” read another comment.
A few, albeit the overwhelming minority, had nice things to say. One man wrote that “269 people move to Marion County per week. Growth is happening whether we like it not. Where are all the people living here going to live. We must build more homes. We must now be part of the solution. People are moving here and we can’t tell them not to come. Now is Ocala’s season of growth,” he said. “What are we going to do as a community to help our city thrive. Growth is inevitable.”
Another development proponent saw this as a matter of property rights. “I don’t understand how you think the land owner should do nothing with the land so you can have a nice view. Maybe you could buy it and look at it whenever you want,” she wrote.
