Clermont residents fight over land use

CLERMONT, Fla. — Residents in a couple Lake County neighborhoods on Lakeshore Drive south of Clermont are waging war over a proposed country store.

They’re opposed to plans to develop a 7-acre piece of property at Lakeshore Drive and Hull Road.

Land owner Joe Dougherty said he has plans for a small country market, not unlike a produce stand that stood on the spot several years ago.

He said eventually he’d like to add a few gas pumps, and that’s part of what has some of his neighbors riled up.

The two sides have dueling web sites.

Some neighbors said they would prefer new homes instead of a business.

“He could make a great profit just doing that,” said homeowner Sandra Call. “I could hook him up with a builder that will give him a nice profit. But he’s trying to make millions off of doing just this, and doing it from us.”

The Lake County commission is expected to settle the matter with a vote in July.

WFTV