In a close 3-2 vote on Tuesday, November 12, the Clermont City Council approved a proposal for an Independent Living (IL), Assisted Living (AL), and Memory Care (MC) facility to be constructed on an 8.44-acre parcel on the southeast corner of Hartwood Marsh Road and Hancock Road. Despite strong opposition from local residents, the council ultimately approved the project, which will be built on property owned by the First Baptist Church.
The council chambers were filled with concerned citizens, as at least 20 residents addressed the council, urging them to deny the proposal. Residents voiced their concerns over the impact of the development on the already heavy traffic along Hancock and Hartwood Marsh Roads. They argued that the increase in traffic, along with noise and light pollution from the facility, would harm the community’s quality of life, lower property values, and exacerbate safety issues on busy roads.
The approved project includes a two-story IL/AL building and a separate MC building. The IL portion will contain 53 units, divided into two construction phases—27 units in Phase 1 and 26 in Phase 2. Meanwhile, the AL and MC facilities will provide 124 beds. The site’s layout allows for 112 parking spaces, allocated to accommodate both staff and visitors, with 80 spaces dedicated to the independent living units, which were calculated at 1.5 parking spaces per unit.
At the height of its construction, the facility’s maximum elevation will reach 55 feet. Notably, the development was repositioned to the church property’s more central area, away from direct adjacency to residential homes. However, this adjustment did little to assuage residents’ concerns over its visibility and impact on the area.
The project received a divided response from the city’s planning bodies. While city staff recommended approval, citing the project’s alignment with local planning regulations, the Planning and Zoning Commission opposed the proposal in a 4-1 vote, reflecting the ongoing concerns of local residents.
While most residents remained respectful toward the council, a few attendees resorted to insults, calling council members “mentally disturbed,” “disgusting human beings,” “shady liars,” and “garbage,” while openly questioning their honesty and reasoning. These behaviors were unsettling, and the only silver lining was that children were not present to witness such conduct. Unfortunately, some individuals seem convinced that their perspectives are the only correct ones, leaving little room for productive dialogue.
As the project moves forward, many residents hope that the city council will take measures to mitigate the traffic and noise issues they fear will follow. Meanwhile, developers have pledged to work with the community to address these concerns while moving forward with their plans to bring assisted living and memory care options to the area.
