A 105-acre plan across I-75 from the future Buc-ee's, with up to 535 homes, a 500-room hotel, and 450,000 square feet of commercial space, goes to the Marion County Commission Oct. 20 at 2 p.m. Planning and Zoning unanimously recommended approval. Road-loading construction is not expected before the new interchange opens, expected in 2028.
The next big piece of northwest Ocala growth is up for a vote next week, at a new I-75 interchange that will change how traffic moves on that side of town. If you own, rent, or are shopping near NW 49th Street or NW 44th Avenue, read this before Oct. 20.
What happened
The Marion County Planning and Zoning Commission voted unanimously to recommend approval of what 352today calls the 49th Street Gateway project. County staff also recommended approval.
The request, per 352today and WKMG:
- Location and size: a 105-acre planned unit development at Northwest 49th Street and Northwest 44th Avenue, directly across I-75 from the planned Buc-ee's.
- What could be built: up to 535 homes, a 500-room hotel, and 450,000 square feet of retail, offices, restaurants, and a gas station. The applicant's attorney said an equine-themed facility is also being considered.
- The land-use change: 31.44 acres would move from Low Residential to Employment Center. WKMG reports that change could allow uses ranging from a truck stop to an amusement park.
- Next step: the Marion County Commission is scheduled to hear it Oct. 20 at 2 p.m. Hoodline calls that the project's final local approval hurdle.
Attorney W. James Gooding III represented the applicant and told the board, "You won't recognize it in five or ten years." He said no construction start date is set, he anticipates "a year or two," and no groundbreaking that loads the roads will happen before the interchange is complete, per 352today.
The interchange is the real story
The project exists because of a new diverging diamond interchange at I-75 and Northwest 49th Street. A jug-handle ramp off that interchange would feed traffic onto the property. Senior Planner Chris Rison said the Buc-ee's cannot open until the interchange is finished, expected at the end of 2028, according to 352today.
More from Hoodline:
- Marion County is contributing a lump sum of $8,419,860 toward interchange construction.
- FDOT is adding auxiliary lanes and operational improvements on I-75 between State Road 200 and State Road 326. Construction on the northern stretch began Nov. 3, 2025.
- The Buc-ee's is planned as an 80,000-square-foot travel center with 120 fueling stations, now targeted to open in late 2029.
352today also reports the county plans to four-lane 49th Street and extend it west toward 70th and 80th Avenues and the World Equestrian Center. For most homeowners, that road work matters more than the hotel.
What neighbors and the sheriff's office said
Nearby owners raised traffic on 44th Avenue, noise, lighting, drainage, and the loss of large old trees. One asked for a buffer with a wall. Gooding said buffers can be tightened during final review.
A letter from the Marion County Sheriff's Office estimated 1,284 new residents, based on 535 units at 2.4 people per household, and said one more deputy would be needed at a first-year cost of $230,802, per 352today. A traffic impact study found existing deficiencies on County Road 225A and nearby intersections but no new deficiencies from the project's internal traffic, according to Hoodline. The traffic study uses a 2035 build-out.
What this means for buyers
- This is a 2028 and later story. The interchange comes first, then the Buc-ee's and the rest. Buy nearby now and plan on living through road construction.
- Check what is approved around any home you like. An Employment Center land-use designation is broad. Before your inspection period ends, look up the zoning and land use on nearby parcels and ask what roads are scheduled for widening or extension.
- Drive it at rush hour. Neighbors say 44th Avenue already backs up at lights.
- New access can be a plus. A new exit at 49th Street could shorten some trips once 49th Street is extended. If that side of town appeals to you, start with my guide to homes near the World Equestrian Center and the 34482 ZIP code guide.
What this means for sellers
- Price on today's sales, not tomorrow's Buc-ee's. Buyers will ask about the interchange and the project. Some will see convenience and others will see traffic. A future travel center is not a reason to list above recent comparable sales. For a pricing conversation, start with my selling page or sellocalahome.com.
- Disclose what you know. If you have received hearing notices or know about planned road work, share it and let buyers do their own research. Clear disclosure protects your closing.
- If you own acreage near the interchange, the land-use picture around you may be shifting. Talk with a land use attorney before you price land for what it might become.
What this means for investors
- A land-use recommendation is not a building permit. The Oct. 20 vote is one step. The planned unit development still goes through final review, and no start date is set. Underwrite the delay, and talk with a land use attorney and a CPA before buying land in the path of an interchange.
- Build your timeline from the sources. Interchange expected at the end of 2028, Buc-ee's targeted for late 2029, traffic study build-out in 2035. Rent and resale assumptions should match those dates, not the headlines.
- Watch future supply. Up to 535 homes would add competition for nearby rentals and resales over time. Compare areas with the Ocala ZIP code guide and my investing guide.
What I'd do this week
- Put Oct. 20 at 2 p.m. on your calendar and check the Marion County Commission agenda that week to confirm the item is still scheduled.
- If you are under contract near NW 49th Street or NW 44th Avenue, look up adjacent zoning and planned road work before your inspection period ends.
- Sellers near the corridor: gather any hearing notices you have received so you can disclose them.
- Investors: write down the 2028, 2029, and 2035 dates and stress test your numbers if each one slips.
Frequently asked questions
What is being built across I-75 from the Ocala Buc-ee's?
A 105-acre mixed-use plan at Northwest 49th Street and Northwest 44th Avenue proposes up to 535 homes, a 500-room hotel, and 450,000 square feet of retail, office, and restaurant space, plus a gas station. Planning and Zoning unanimously recommended a land-use change on 31.44 acres from Low Residential to Employment Center. The county commission still has to vote.
When does Marion County vote on the NW 49th Street Gateway project?
The Marion County Commission is scheduled to take it up on Oct. 20 at 2 p.m., according to WKMG and 352today. Hoodline describes that hearing as the project's final local approval hurdle.
When will the Ocala Buc-ee's open?
Hoodline reports the Buc-ee's is now targeted to open in late 2029. It cannot open until the new I-75 interchange at Northwest 49th Street is finished, which county staff expect at the end of 2028, according to 352today.
Will the new I-75 interchange raise home values in northwest Ocala?
No one can promise that, and I will not. New access can add convenience, while construction and traffic can weigh on the closest homes. For a specific property, ask for a current comparative market analysis based on recent sales, not on future projects.
How will the project affect traffic on NW 44th Avenue and 49th Street?
A traffic impact study found existing deficiencies on County Road 225A and nearby intersections but no new deficiencies from the project's internal traffic, according to Hoodline. The county plans to four-lane and extend 49th Street west, per 352today.
Sources
- 352today: Marion Planning & Zoning backs I-75 gateway plan after neighbors object (Sep 29, 2026)
- WKMG: 535-home development near Ocala Buc-ee's project gets OK from planning board (Oct 2, 2026)
- Hoodline: Ocala 535-Home Development Near Buc-ee's Awaits County Vote (Oct 3, 2026, updated Oct 9)
General information only, not legal, tax, or lending advice, and no guarantee of any approval, timeline, or value. Consult a land use attorney, a CPA, or a licensed lender for your situation.
Cristian Gonzalez, REALTOR, eXp Realty
FL License #3633800 · Ocala, Marion County, Florida · Published October 13, 2026