After a recent article announcing plans to build a new Home Depot in Ocala, several residents wrote in to share their opinions. Here are a few more of the letters that we received:
“I am not in favor of anymore development near On Top Of The World (OTOW). There’s already too much unrestrained development in Ocala and the relatively peaceful SW Ocala area does not need another damn commercial (or residential) development here, pushing out horse country & rural areas. Bad enough that Marion County Commissioners just can’t stop approving development in every open space in SW Marion County, infrastructure (roads, power, water, sewage, schools, health care), improvements are not keeping up with any of these ‘developments.’ Shame on those Marion County & State leaders who are so short sighted they are turning a beautiful SW Florida rural community into the next overcrowded, over taxed, and congested Orlando or Miami within the next decade.” – David Halperin, Ocala
“I live within 300 feet of this proposed Home Depot. On Top of the World communities has grown and is still growing. I’m not opposed to commercial buildings being built so close to my community, but I believe there needs to be a buffer wall in between. The noise of tractor trailers, traffic and lights will definitely impact our quality of life. The road that will be used by tractor trailers, trucks and cars is the same entrance road into OTOW community. The traffic getting in and out of OTOW now onto 200 is crazy. I can’t imagine how bad it will be once Home Depot is there. The access road that leads to canopy oaks shopping center from OTOW is one lane in and one lane out. Cars, golf carts, bikes and pedestrians use this road now, trucks and more cars will make this a dangerous situation. I believe there needs to be a new traffic study. The traffic study was done in the summer when most of the snowbirds are gone.. we are at full swing now and the traffic is crazy. So many accidents. Would like to see some changes made to these plans before Home Depot is built.” – Barbara Cauchi, Ocala…