A car dealership on S.R. 50 near Ray Goodgame Boulevard, 212 apartments at C.R. 455 and a tattoo studio go to Clermont's planning board Tuesday, Nov. 3.

A car dealership with a car wash and repair shop is planned for vacant land on State Road 50 in east Clermont. It needs the city to annex the land and allow a use that Lake County’s zoning for the site ruled out.

The Clermont Planning and Zoning Commission takes up the request at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall, 685 W. Montrose St. The same meeting covers a 212-unit apartment complex at State Road 50 and County Road 455 and a tattoo and piercing studio on East Highway 50. City staff recommend approval of all three.

The details below come from the city’s agenda and packet for the Nov. 3 meeting. The commission makes recommendations. The City Council has the final vote.

The car dealership: Johns Lake Auto

The site is about 21.53 acres at 16740 State Road 50, south of S.R. 50 and east of Ray Goodgame Boulevard. It is vacant. The applicant is Cra-Mar Groves Inc. and a co-owner, represented by Jimmy Crawford.

The land sits under a Lake County planned unit development, Johns’ Lake Landing (county Ordinance 2021-32). That allows up to 161,000 square feet of general commercial use on the tract. It excludes automobile dealerships, car washes and automotive repair, the staff report says.

The owners want three things from the city:

  • Ordinance 2026-038: a future land use change from Lake County Urban Low to Clermont Commercial
  • Ordinance 2026-039: a rezoning from the county planned unit development and agriculture to Clermont C-2 General Commercial
  • Resolution 2026-044R: a conditional use permit for a dealership, car wash and repair

The plan shows one building of about 43,000 square feet. The conditions in the draft permit include:

  • hours limited to 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week
  • no outside speaker systems
  • a water recycling system for the car wash
  • a cleanup and restoration of the lake on the west side of the site within five years
  • a walking trail, benches and parking along the lake, donated to the city when finished

The land drops sharply toward the lake. The applicant asks for two waivers: fill of up to 39 feet and cuts of up to 34 feet across about 34% of the site. Retaining walls could be up to 10 feet tall, with extra landscaping where they face S.R. 50.

City staff wrote that the corridor “has transitioned into a heavily commercialized area” with automotive, retail and service uses. They found the dealership consistent with that pattern.

Hartle Hills: 212 apartments at S.R. 50 and C.R. 455

The second site is about 17.89 vacant acres northwest of the intersection of State Road 50 and County Road 455. Kimley-Horn and Associates is the applicant’s engineer.

Lake County has already approved apartments there. Its planned unit development allows up to 212 units in 10 buildings. Possible amenities listed in the packet:

  • a clubhouse and pool
  • a tot lot and a pickleball court
  • a dog park
  • a butterfly garden and a community garden

The owners signed a utility agreement with the city on Aug. 27, 2024, for water and sewer. Under it, they agreed to develop to city standards. They now ask the city to annex the land, give it the Commercial land use (Ordinance 2026-041) and a city planned unit development zoning (Ordinance 2026-042).

Staff call it a “like for like” transfer of the county approval. The Commercial category allows up to 12 homes an acre, and 212 units on 17.89 acres stays under that.

Fine Ink Studios on East Highway 50

Fine Ink Studios asks for a conditional use permit (Resolution 2026-042R) for a tattoo and body piercing studio at 450 E. Highway 50. The building is at the northwest corner of East Highway 50 and Disston Avenue.

The studio would take a unit of about 2,500 square feet in an existing 12,000-square-foot building. It would open seven days a week from 11 a.m. and close by 10 p.m. at the latest. The Florida Department of Health licenses and inspects tattoo studios, the staff report notes.

Clermont’s code has no permitted category for this use, so it needs a permit. The draft conditions bar outdoor entertainment, loudspeakers and music.

A fourth request, a conditional use permit for Pups Pub (Resolution 2026-043R), was withdrawn by the applicant.

When the council votes

Draft documents in the packet show the City Council’s dates:

  • Nov. 10: the Fine Ink Studios permit
  • Dec. 8: the Johns Lake Auto and Hartle Hills ordinances and the dealership permit

What it means for you

  • To speak: the meeting is open to public comment. It starts at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3, in the Council Chambers at City Hall.
  • To read the plans: the full packet, with site plans and maps, is on the city’s agenda portal. The ordinances can also be inspected at the Development Services Department from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.
  • Questions: the city’s notice gives 352-394-4083, ext. 3.
  • Accessibility: call the City Clerk’s office at 352-241-7330 at least 48 hours ahead.

Tuesday is also Election Day, with polls open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.; see where and when to vote. For how rezonings and permits work in Clermont, see our building permits and zoning page.