Marion County commissioners approve final plan for Westwood Trails development

Saga CommunicationsPaolo Mastroserio of Mastroserio Engineering presents the final master plan for the Westwood Trails development during a Marion County Commission meeting on July 21, 2025. Amber Battillo/352today

OCALA, FL (352today.com) – The Marion County Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved the final master plan for Westwood Trails, a planned unit development (PUD) formerly referred to as Fun N Games or Villa Verde. The 5-0 vote came during a public hearing held July 21, 2025, at the McPherson Governmental Campus Auditorium.

Development details

  • Location: 18.3-acre parcel on SW 75th Ave.
  • Original approval: PUD approved on Oct. 17, 2023
  • Previously approved units: 72 homes
  • Current plan: 69 single-family dwellings

The final master plan was submitted by Paolo Mastroserio of Mastroserio Engineering, the agent for the applicant, as required by the original PUD approval.

Housing and amenities

The development will feature a mix of one- and two-story homes, with all perimeter homes limited to one story.

Planned amenities include:

  • A park with pavilion and picnic area
  • A dog park with a waste station
  • A proposed water fountain feature
  • 3.63 acres of open space (meeting the minimum requirement)
  • An 8-foot multimodal path along SW 80th Street

All areas and elements of the PUD will be maintained by a Homeowners Association. The master plan also commits to meeting land development code buffer requirements.

Staff conditions and recommendations

County staff recommended approval of the master plan, subject to the following conditions:

  • Traffic analysis revisions:
    The traffic impact study must be updated to satisfy both the county engineer and the growth services director. The revised analysis must examine:
    • SW 80th Street and SW 80th Avenue
    • SW 80th Street and SR 200
  • Coordination of improvements:
    Adequate measures must be taken to coordinate any necessary infrastructure improvements with the PUD’s development timeline.

Legislative considerations

Planned amendments such as this one are considered legislative actions, placing the board in a policy-making role. Testimony and input may address future growth and broad policy concerns for Marion County. The board has significant discretion when evaluating such considerations.

All development orders, including rezoning actions, must align with the county’s adopted comprehensive plan.