Clermont planning commission rejects Heritage Square rezoning, 1-6

The Clermont Planning and Zoning Commission on May 6 voted 1-6 against Ordinance 2025-011, a rezoning request to convert a six-acre parcel at the northeast corner of State Road 50 and Twelfth Street from a previously approved planned unit development (PUD) to C-2 general commercial.

The applicant, Keith Kovach, said the original distillery plan approved in 2019 was no longer viable after state legislative changes and that rezoning to C-2 would make marketing the site easier. "We're going to be diligent. We're going to submit a site plan once we have something down the line, and that will be there for your consideration," Kovach told commissioners.

The site was rezoned from M-1 industrial to a PUD in November 2019 and that PUD allowed a multi-building development tied to a distillery. Commissioners repeatedly told the applicant they were not voting on a project now but on a change of zoning with long-term implications for traffic, parking and the downtown gateway.

Commissioner Hoisington said the commission lacked the specifics needed to judge impacts: "There has not been a specific project for this parcel." Commissioner May and several colleagues said they were more comfortable reviewing a concrete site plan or a PUD amendment that would spell out parking and circulation. The city attorney also reviewed the legal criteria the commission must consider for rezoning, citing the code requirement to weigh whether changed conditions justify the rezoning, whether adequate sites exist for the proposed district uses, and whether the land development code can ensure compatibility with adjoining properties.

A member of the public, Charlene Harrison of DeSoto Street, urged the commission to consider neighborhood impacts. "It's gonna impact us a 100%," she said, showing photographs of congestion on nearby residential streets during events.

Commissioner Kramer moved to approve the ordinance; the motion was seconded by Commissioner Neamec. Only Kramer voted in favor; Commissioners Tadona, May, Colby, Neamec, Behn and Hoisington and Chair Bain voted against the rezoning. The commission's negative recommendation will be forwarded to the City Council for its consideration at first reading.

No permit or project approvals were granted at the meeting; any future development on the site would require separate site-plan or conditional-use review and would be subject to the land development code and required traffic and parking review.