CLERMONT, Fla. -- The city of Clermont wants to create a red light district for adult businesses. It would allow strip clubs and adult book stores to open in an industrial area north of Citrus Tower Boulevard.

There are no adult businesses in Clermont, because the current ordinance doesn't allow them. The city doesn't think that policy would stand a court challenge, so there's no choice other than to carve out a place where adult businesses could locate.

Clermont's known for its rolling hills, not exotic dancers in high heels, but the city council will consider a change to an ordinance that would allow adult businesses.

“We have to be reasonable, but at the same time this is not a triple-X or X-rated community and that needs to be addressed too,” resident Cindy Freyberger said.

The current ordinance doesn't allow for adult businesses. Recent court rulings tell the city that businesses can't be banned, but they can be regulated. Without a better ordinance, some fear adult businesses could locate just about anywhere they liked, including right next to city hall.

“If someone comes forward with an application, we don't have an ordinance to tell them where they can and can't locate,” Councilman Ray Goodgame said.

Clermont is talking about locating adult businesses in an industrial area and there are only three such areas, one off County Road 561, an area off Grand Highway and an area north of Citrus Tower Boulevard around Commons Court.

The latter is the only one where zoning and planning would allow for an adult business.

“I think it should be restricted as far as public schools and churches,” resident Jonathan Jesaitis said.

City officials have talked about restrictions that would keep adult businesses a distance from areas like those. It would be similar to a plan adopted by the city of Orlando earlier this month, but the first task for Clermont is simply agreeing to change the rules.

The city says there have been no recent applications made to locate an adult business in the city. The hope is to change the ordinance before there is one.