Three major issues facing the Clermont City Council at the May 23 meeting:
Salt Shack – The property, located at 846 West Osceola Street, was formerly known as Lilly’s on the Lake. The property owner in 2012 received a conditional use permit for a building greater than 3,000 square feet to be used as a restaurant within the Central Business District with certain conditions that allowed outdoor uses.
The 6,669-square-foot building was constructed in 2015 and was opened as a restaurant. In 2021, City Staff received complaints that the restaurant was violating their conditional use permit due to having events that were not approved. The City Council, on January 24, 2022, found the property owner and permittee had violated the City Code, the Florida Fire Prevention Code, and Conditional Use Permit Resolution 2012-21. As a result of the violations, the 2012-21 Resolution was amended to only allow restaurant operations within the confines of the existing building, no outdoor activities and no outdoor music played on the premises which prohibited the agent or assigns from seeking an amendment for a period of one year from January 24, 2022. This timeframe has been met.
The new, long-term leasee, the Salt Shack, will be occupying the restaurant and controlling the property as part of its lease. The company has experience with a successful waterfront restaurant in Tampa and they would like to be able to use the full potential of the current property for outdoor dining. The restaurant will provide background music; no musical events. Council approved the request. The restaurant has been gutted and is being brought up to code. It is opening soon.
Johnson Village Marketplace – Council approved the placement of two signs on the lower portion of the roof of a new commercial building at 550 West Avenue at the northwest corner of Minneola Avenue and West Avenue.
The variance request allows for two (2) signs to be placed along the bottom portion of the pitched roof of the building. The building sits approximately 4 to 6 feet below street grade and has mature trees along the rights-of-ways. Johnson has indicated the the building is not visible from street level. If approved, the signs would be approximately 4 to 8 feet above street level.
The signs will be installed in lieu of wall signs. The sign facing West Avenue would be the larger sign since this encompasses the longer length of the building. The sign facing Minneola Avenue would be the smaller sign since this is the smaller length of the building.
Citrus Tower Commercial – Council approved a variance to allow for topography elevation changes up to 28 feet instead of the 15 feet maximum permitted for commercial development. The vacant parcel is located on State Road 50, adjacent to Taco Bell in the Citrus Tower Commercial Center.
The newly constructed building will have a parking area situated below the office area allowing patients and staff easy access via elevator to office. The applicant indicated the overall topography changes that exceed the code requirements will only impact approximately five (5) percent of the overall parcel. The 12,000-square-foot, newly constructed medical building, will have lower-level parking with an elevator to bring patients conveniently to the office area.
The staff had reviewed the owner’s application and advised the council that the project did not meet all requirements and could be designed in a less intense manner that would not require a variance. However, after discussion, the council approved the application.
In other business…
Mayor Tim Murry announced that Duke Energy is replacing all the street lights in the city of Clermont with LED lights. People who notice a street light needing to be replaced should call the Clermont Police Department.
Proclamations
Sommer Sports Celebration Day (May 23, 2023)
Clermont native and long-time business owner Fred Sommer did run his first triathlon in 1983 and decided to create a Clermont event to occupy his running buddies. Fred’s event, The Great Clermont Triathlon, did bring more than 600 trained athletes and enthusiasts to town to celebrate its 40th Anniversary earlier this year. Fred’s one-race adventure did grow into an award-winning, full-service, multi-sport, event timing and management company that owns and operates 20 events each year and manages several others.
Sommer Sports has hosted more triathlons than any other venue in the country thus designating Clermont as the World’s Triathlon Destination. Fred and his staff at Sommer Sports have committed to continuing their tradition of hosting well-planned and well-executed sporting events for years to come.
Memorial Day (May 29, 2023)
in uniform and their sacrifice to protect the interests of our country and defend our
freedoms. Florida is blessed to be the home of more than 1.5 million military veterans who have shown courage and valor, often in the face of grave danger.
On this Memorial Day, the City of Clermont residents remember those who have
made the ultimate sacrifice for this country, and comfort the families and friends of those who lost a loved one, as we are forever indebted to those who have died in defense of our Republic. We reflect upon the enormous contributions to our country of our fallen warriors, we also pay tribute to the next generation of Clermont residents who have chosen to serve in the United States Armed Forces, as they are committed to sustaining a legacy of unyielding patriotism. The residents of Clermont must always stand united in remembrance of those whom have given so much so that we can live in freedom, prosperity, and enjoy the blessings our country has to offer.
The Drop Saver Program was created in 1998 by the American Water Works Association as part of its larger initiative to help educate young people on the importance of conserving and protecting the most valuable natural resource on Earth – water!
For the tenth consecutive year, the City of Clermont has invited students from Clermont schools to participate in a Water Conservation poster contest.
CONGRATULATIONS TO CLERMONT’S UPCOMING ARTISTS AND CONSERVATIONISTS.
