by Larry Oskin
The Clermont City Council invited a group of ten local high school teens to make a formal presentation based upon their research and work with City Management over the past year. Shannon Schmidt, Clermont’s Director of Economic Development helped guide the students to find a project after they met with numerous Clermont City leaders and managers.
Youth Council Project Team: Emma Gaskins and Aaron Curlee led the very resourceful PowerPoint presentation. The ten students on this Clermont Youth Council team were Aaron Curlee, Mary Landaberde, Tyler Irby and Kristopher Ganesh of South Lake High School as well as Bailey Bates, Megan Yurchick and Luis Mustafa of East Ridge High School and Camille Eldridge and Kaylee Sakur of Lake Minneola High School.
Gem Of The Hills: This proposed new affordable housing project will require a property management resource for the neighborhoods, with landscaping, irrigation, amenities, a park and more. Targeted families will include families with children and the properties will not be intended as a forever home. There will be a limitation on the number of residents per unit. Construction will be Conventional while each home will be between 400 and 800 square feet. Currently proposed sites include a public works location at 400 12thStreet as well as another near Clermont Elementary at 600 East Highlands Avenue.
Low Income-Affordable Housing: Their project primarily supports and recommends the City of Clermont to take action on providing more affordable small housing for the homeless and US Veterans. They shared that according to the United Way Alice Report, 14% of Florida’s population is below the Federal Poverty Level. It also notes that 32% of Florida’s population earns more than the Federal Poverty Level, yet less than the basic cost of living. This Youth Council study included current research for Hillsborough, Lake, Orange, Osceola, Sumter, and Seminole Counties. They proposed a change to the City’s Code to allow construction for short-term transitionary housing to help targeted families in need. This extensive study recommends that the new low-income housing must be within walking distance of a shopping plaza with a grocery store, bus stops, and medical offices. Homes will have individual driveways and there will be off-street parking access. Sidewalks will be limited to one side of the street to add to the affordability, yet they will be A.D.A. Compliant. Each housing development will be near a big central part or green space area, with a central community mailbox and an amenity center. Minimal landscaping will be appealing, while street lights and canopy trees will be set in place along the perimeter of the development. Their streets will be built to meet Clermont City standards and there will be no private streets. Other nearby cities with similar affordable housing projects include Ocala, Orlando, Oviedo, St. Petersburg, Rockledge, and Wildwood.
Youth Council Challenge: The Youth Council is requesting the Clermont City Council do further research as well as to approve a land development Code Change to allow for Workforce Housing. Should the City Council agree to their request, the City Council will need to direct City Staff to draft a formal ordinance for the code change which would be advertised and brought before Council for final comments and approvals. This Youth Council learned how to responsibly get involved with the various departments and officials with Clermont City Government.
EDITORIAL NOTE: Larry Oskin is a writer/photographer for the South Lake Tablet. He is the owner of Marketing Solutions / Art Beautique, offering creative marketing, media relations and professional fine art photography services. He is a board member of the Clermont Downtown Partnership and a member of the Clermont Historic Village volunteer team dedicated to revitalizing the Historic Downtown District. For more information, contact Oskin at 407-395-9007 or at LOskin@MktgSols.com.
