The Marion County Board of County Commissioners held a public hearing on August 13, 2025, to discuss proposed amendments to the Marion County Land Development Code. This meeting marked the first of two public hearings aimed at refining local land development regulations.

Aaron Poole, the county's land development manager, and Jason Cambry, the stormwater engineer, presented the proposed changes, which have been in development for over a year. The revisions aim to streamline processes and enhance stormwater management while ensuring compliance with state regulations.

Key amendments include the introduction of new categories that exempt single-family residences and farms from major site plan requirements, particularly for properties of 10 acres or more. This change aligns with Florida statutes that exempt bona fide agricultural uses from most land development codes, except for floodplain management regulations.

Additional modifications to the code involve adjustments to driveway connection permits, which now require consideration of roadside drainage and additional inspections when culverts are involved. The stormwater management section also saw significant updates, including a reduction in berm widths from 12 feet to 5 feet and the removal of mandatory landscape buffers along county roadways.

Furthermore, the stormwater management criteria have been updated to include a 100-year, 24-hour frequency duration for both open and closed basins, enhancing floodplain protection measures. The proposed changes also incorporate new data sources for stormwater conveyance criteria, replacing outdated information with current NOAA Atlas 14 data.

The meeting concluded with a commitment to further refine the proposed amendments based on feedback from the public and commissioners. The next public hearing will provide an opportunity for additional input before the finalization of these important regulatory changes.