By Bryce Abshier – Contact Bryce@VoiceofSouthMarion.com
A property along East Highway 25 in Belleview could be rezoned for commercial use if a proposed land use amendment is approved.
Partners Self Storage, LLC has applied for a small-scale comprehensive plan amendment to reclassify a 6.0-acre site at 7655 East Highway 25 from Medium Residential (MR) to Commercial (COM). The property, which sits just north of the intersection of CR 25 and CR 25A, is located within Marion County’s “Urban Growth Boundary” (UGB).
The applicant, Fred Roberts, Esq. of Klein & Klein and Associates, submitted the request on behalf of Partners Self Storage. The property, currently zoned Community Business (B-2), was previously home to Elks Lodge #2370, a 7,129-square-foot institutional building constructed in 1978. No active code violations exist on the property, and county records indicate prior zoning approvals dating all the way back to 1987.
Public Hearings Scheduled
The proposal was reviewed by the Marion County Planning and Zoning Commission on January 27, 2025, and will be followed by hearings before the Board of County Commissioners on February 17 and 18, 2025.
According to county staff, the amendment would align the land use with its existing B-2 zoning designation, allowing for uses such as a self-storage facility or a church. The site has direct access to county-maintained roads, and traffic impact studies suggest minimal effect on congestion in the area.
Public hearing notices were mailed to 12 property owners within 300 feet of the site, and a sign was posted on the property on January 21, 2025. As of the latest report, no public comments have been submitted for or against the request.
Staff Recommends Approval
County planners support the amendment, citing its consistency with Marion County’s Comprehensive Plan and Florida Statutes governing land use changes. The recommendation notes that a commercial designation would be compatible with nearby land uses, which include residential neighborhoods and commercial properties, while maintaining compliance with environmental policies.
A final decision on the amendment will be made by the Board of County Commissioners following public hearings in February.
