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.

The two sides have dueling web sites.

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.

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.