For more than a decade, the City of Clermont has leased the DeHoyos property located north of West Minneola Avenue between 7th and 8th Streets for use as a public parking lot. During that time, the City has also expressed interest in purchasing the property outright. However, previous offers to buy the land were declined by the property owner.

Ms. DeHoyos recently met with city officials to revisit the possibility of purchasing her downtown properties. During that meeting, Ms. DeHoyos indicated she would consider selling two of her parcels and invited the City to make an offer.

The first property is located north of West Minneola Avenue, between 7th and 8th Streets and south of West Osceola Street. The second parcel lies north of West Osceola Street, south of Carroll Street, and west of 5th Street. The property is currently leased by the city for parking and located next to SunCreek Brewery.

Following discussions, the City made a formal offer on October 1, 2025, to purchase both properties. The properties were appraised for $4.7 million. On October 6, Ms. DeHoyos contacted the City Manager’s Office and agreed to sell the properties for $4.5 million.

City staff has recommended that Council authorize the City Manager to proceed with the purchase for an amount not to exceed $4.5 million. The total cost would be covered through a budget amendment utilizing General Fund cash reserves. As of the end of September, Clermont’s unaudited General Fund balance exceeded the required 25% reserve by approximately $12.5 million, leaving ample funds available for the acquisition.

The potential purchase of the DeHoyos properties represents the next step in Clermont’s long-term efforts to improve downtown parking.

In highlighting the city’s long-term vision for a vibrant and walkable downtown, Clermont Mayor Tim Murry emphasized the importance of the DeHoyos property acquisition as a cornerstone for future development stating, “The acquisition of the DeHoyos property is a major step forward for our community. Ownership of this property ensures that future development will align with community goals and the city’s master plan, rather than being dictated by private interest.  Clermont gains the flexibility to thoughtfully plan for the property‘s best use while exploring a range of options for the site, including parking, public space, economic development or a mixed-use project that enhances the character and energy of Clermont’s downtown”.

The Clermont Mayor reflected on what the acquisition means for the city’s future growth and downtown revitalization stating, “For more than 15 years, city leaders have identified this property as a key component in Clermont’s continued downtown revitalization. This purchase will allow the city to take a proactive approach in shaping development that aligns with our vision for a vibrant, walkable and thriving downtown.”

The City’s 2015 Downtown Master Plan identified the need for a parking garage to support future growth. In 2020, a parking study confirmed that additional parking would be required as leases expired and redevelopment occurred. At that time, the City evaluated potential garage sites and selected a 1.67-acre parcel at Clermont City Hall as a possible location.

Atkins Engineering was later tasked with developing a detailed concept and cost estimate for a 350- to 360-space parking garage. The design included amenities such as rooftop solar panels, EV charging stations, elevators, and an observation deck. However, even after scaling back some of the enhancements, the estimated cost remained between $13.5 million and $16 million, leading the City to conclude the project was not financially feasible at the time.

Clermont continued to explore practical, cost-effective parking solutions. In August 2023, the City Council approved paving city-owned property between Victory Pointe and Salt Shack to create additional public parking near downtown.

The acquisition of the DeHoyos property will provide valuable flexibility for future downtown parking development and strengthen the City’s ability to meet the growing needs of residents, visitors, and businesses.

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Concerns were raised about several aspects of the proposal, including the height and grading of the planned structures, by both Clermont staff and the Planning and Zoning Commission and both recommended denial of the ambitious request. 

Following deliberation, the Clermont City Council decided to table the request until August 27. This decision allows Clermont West Investments additional time to refine its strategy and address the council’s concerns about the project’s questionable elements. The developer will need to reconsider key aspects to align more closely with the city’s standards and expectations before the council makes a final decision.

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Newly elected Council Member Chandra L. Myers was sworn in and welcomed to her first term. Returning Council Member Jim Purvis was also sworn in for another 2-year term and selected to remain as Mayor Pro Tem.

Expressions of appreciation and well wishes were shared for outgoing Council Member Ebo Entsuah. Special memories and a few funny stories were also shared.

“It is a bittersweet day for me as it has been a true honor to serve Clermont as a Council Member,” Entsuah expressed. “Your support has been instrumental in my professional and personal growth.”

The Council also accepted the official results from the Nov. 7 General Election. This includes all precincts and the results are:

• Seat 4 – Myers received 1,962 votes (51.76%) while Max Kryzminski received 1,828 votes (48.24%)
• Clermont Ordinance No. 2023-014 failed with 2,090 votes (61.08%) against and 1,332 votes (38.92 %) in favor

*We welcome Mrs. Myers to the Council and look forward to helping her get settled into her new role as a Council Member,” City Manager Brian Bulthuis said. “We also offer our sincere appreciation to Mr. Entsuah for his commitment to our community.

He is the youngest council member I have ever worked with, but his knowledge and enthusiasm go well beyond his youthfulness.”

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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. 

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)

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.

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Ordinance No. 2023-014 was introduced at the Clermont City Council Meeting Tuesday, April 11, and will be voted on at the April 25 meeting. This ordinance proposes changing the term length for Council Members from two to four years.

At the final hearing on April 25, the question would be placed on the November 7, 2023, ballot for Clermont voters to decide.

Currently, it costs the city approximately $50,000 to hold odd-year elections, as there are no other county, state, or federal elections. By changing to elections every two years on even years, the city will no longer have the costs of running its own elections.

If voters agree, the transition to 4-year terms would begin with the 2024 election of Seats 1, 3, and 5. Seats 2 and 4 would be elected to a 1-year term in 2025 and a 4-year term in 2026.

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Praising First Responders And City Staff – Clermont City Manager Brian Bulthuis announced that 95% of the tree limbs and trash caused by Hurricane Ian has been cleaned up and thanked the staff for all they did during the emergency. City Council also thanked emergency response teams for a job well done.  

New Website – The City will be launching a new website with such features as easy ADA Accessibility and an improved search engine. The project has been ongoing since last March. Information will be migrated to the new site. Website training for the staff will be held next week then the site will go live.

Mirror Lake Subdivision – The applicant, Nick Asma, requested six variances to the Land Development Code to allow for the construction of a 21-lot single-family residential subdivision. The vacant parcel is located on the south side of Old Highway 50, just west of the Greater Hills Subdivision. The zoning is R-1 Single Family Medium Density Residential with a Low-Density Residential Land Use. After deliberation and no negative feedback from those attending, the request was approved.

Wellness Way  – The request to approve 952 residential units plus commercial use on Schoefield Road in the Wellness Way area was approved by Clermont City Council on October 11. The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has indicated Wellness Way Boulevard will need to be constructed prior to developing the subject property. In addition, The Lake County School Board has expressed concern over student capacity and available school sites in the South Lake County Area. City Manager Bultuis said the developer is actively working with the School Board on high school and elementary school sites. 

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Clermont held a special council meeting on Tuesday, November 17, to swear in the newly elected City Council Members.

Getting To Know The People You Elected

Clermont Mayor Tim Murry is a native Clermont resident, who graduated from Clermont High School in 1972. He is married to Kassier Kyler-Murry of Ocala and has three children. Murry attended Florida A&M University for two years prior to moving to Connecticut. He has Associates of Arts Degrees from Rose State College in Midwest City OK, Saint Leo College in Florida and The Community College of the Air Force. In addition, he has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Management/Human Resources from Park College in Missouri and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix in Arizona, and notes he has never stopped learning.

In 1975, Murry joined the US Air Force where he served for nearly 23 years before retiring in 1998. After retiring he returned to Florida. In 1999, he started working for the US Postal Service in Clermont and remained there for 21 years. In 2001, he moved back to Clermont after purchasing a home in the same neighborhood he grew up in. Murry is one of the founders and current president of the non-profit organization Christian Men in Action that focus on mentoring of young men in our Clermont and South Lake area communities. With a high crime rate and drugs in the community, he hosted a series of Town Hall meetings that hundreds of residents attended to voice their issues and concerns to the Mayor, Chief of Police, and City Manager. Evaluating the comments and inputs during the Town Hall Meetings, Murry personally took on the community responsibility of successfully initiating and opening a Boys and Girls Club here in Clermont.

He presently serves on the Clermont Planning & Zoning Board, South Lake Boys & Girls Club Advisory Board, Lincoln Park Community Impact Committee, Vice-President of Lincoln Park South Lake Alliance and Vice-Chair of New Jacob’s Chapel Missionary Baptist Church Board of Trustees. He also served on Clermont’s Code Enforcement Board, Citizens Advisory Task Force for Community Development Block Grant, Chaired East Ridge Middle School Student Advisory Committee and as President of South Lake Democratic Club for six years. He is a member of Lake County Democratic Black Caucus, the South Lake Black Achievers, Veterans of Foreign Wars and he is a Florida Notary.

Murry’s campaign platform primarily involved three key directives. First: Help create affordable workforce housing to support local service industries, that is not a part of Section 8. Second: Help raise living wages for our working Clermont residents. Third: Make sure the residents remain protected and safe, by supporting police, sheriff, and fire departments.

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Timothy Bates was born in Birmingham, AL, and raised in the Orlando area.  He and his wife moved to Clermont 17 years ago where they have raised their 2 children.  Bates received a Bachelor’s’ Degree from the University of Alabama.  He also holds a license as a Florida Realtor, a Certified Building Contractor, Home Inspector and has achieved certifications as a Certified Aging in Place Specialist and Environmental Access Consultant.

Bates has been a very successful entrepreneur.  He owns a medical equipment company that provides respiratory equipment to patients in their home as well as working as a consultant in the industry.

Timothy Bates is a current Clermont City Council member and has served as the Clermont Mayor-Pro-Tem.  He has been on numerous boards, councils, and committees with the South Lake Chamber of Commerce, Lake County, Florida League of Cities, Florida Alliance for Home Care, Fellowship of Christian Athletes and has served his church in the community. He has been a coach for the Clermont Girls’ Fast Pitch, Travel Teams, and South Lake Little League.  He was awarded Advocate of the Year in the medical equipment industry by working with elected officials in Washington and Tallahassee for Seniors’ rights.

Bates notes that our residents are concerned with our local roads, traffic and workforce housing. He believes he and the city of Clermont have good relationships with Lake county and state officials but thinks Clermont needs to continue developing these relationships. Bates says that we must all lend support for our road maintenance improvements, overall traffic congestion and safety which is needed from the county and state in order to address these concerns. He noted that due to the COVID pandemic, there have been numerous layoffs and business closures, so the need for affordable housing is increasing in the city.  Bates has supported the removal of some barriers that prevented WorkForce Housing but says there is more work that can be done, especially with the growth and expansion of south highway 27 towards the new Wellness Way area.

He shares that being re-elected will allow him the opportunity to finish the work he helped start with Clermont’s Master Plan.

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Michele Barnard Pines moved to Clermont in 1970 with her family. She graduated from Clermont High School. She is a mother of two daughters, a son-in-law and two grandchildren. She says that she is truly blessed to still have her parents with her. Pines notes, “Clermont is a big part of who I am, how I was raised and the values instilled in me. I have remained in Central Florida my entire life and moved back to my hometown of Clermont three years ago. I remain committed to Clermont. My commitment is reflected in my actions and engagement over the past three years by attending Clermont City Council meetings, committee meetings, Planning & Zoning meetings and workshops.”

Michele said she understands and values the history of Clermont as well as the obstacles for moving forward with regards to development and infrastructure. She believes this history is an integral part of understanding the future of Clermont. She adds, “I believe a healthy relationship with Lake County will aid in finding solutions to our traffic and growth. I believe in our first responders and am in full support of their ongoing efforts to make Clermont the safest city possible.

In spite of the COVID Pandemic, Toni Bell-Rescoe said she couldn’t miss the swearing-in of the newly elected council members.  She gushed with pride as Tim Murry and Michele Barnard Pines, her Clermont High School students, became mayor and council member.

Ebo Entsuah and Pamela Amerson are in a runoff election for Seat 4 in January.
Councilman Jim Purvis will be up for reelection in 2021.

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With the recent resignation of Clermont City Council Member Heidi Brishke, the city will be holding a special election to fill her seat.

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