Clermont’s ‘Meet Us in the Middle’ design grows to include Veterans and first-responder memorials; council hears $12.5 million estimate and permitting timeline

Architects and veterans pressed the City of Clermont and the Community Redevelopment Agency at an Oct. 21 joint workshop to advance the "Meet Us in the Middle" waterfront project, which designers have expanded to include a Veterans Memorial and a First Responders Memorial adjoining tiered public seating.

Powell Studio Architecture principal Jeff Powell presented site plans that show a plaza, promenades tying into the existing seawall, a gazebo, tiered seating and fixed and floating docks protected by a floating breakwater. The design places the Veterans Memorial at the top of the tiered seating and a First Responders Memorial to its side; LiveWell Foundation has awarded a $1 million grant toward the tiered seating portion, staff said.

Cost, grant support and fundraising Powell said the team's current, assembled cost estimate for the full project is about $12,500,000. He and council members discussed earlier figures that had circulated from an impact-fee study, which was cited in the meeting as projecting $15,000,000 for downtown recreational impact improvements; staff said those impact-fee numbers come from the city's impact-fee study.

Powell and staff said the Veterans and First Responders components can be phased. Powell estimated the Veterans Memorial and the tiered seating (the LiveWell-funded piece) could be built separately and suggested the council could prioritize that portion. Powell gave a back-of-envelope estimate for just the veterans/first-responders/tiered seating package of roughly $500,000–$850,000 in additional funds beyond LiveWell's $1 million, but stressed that further design work would be needed to confirm a phased price.

Public comments: veterans and neighbors A large number of veterans and veterans' organizations spoke in favor of moving the memorial components forward promptly. Speakers included Kurt Shiel (VFW member), Dwayne Orrith (VFW post commander), Jason Hunt (retired Army first sergeant), Mark Pollock (veteran and local businessman) and Robert Mach (Navy veteran). Commenters urged urgency, noting aging World War II and Korean War veterans and the desire for a memorial they could visit.

Some long‑time downtown neighbors urged caution and preservation of existing shoreline uses. Several neighbors said the existing H Street (A Street) pier is an important historic and quiet place for fishing and reflection and warned that expanded waterfront amenities, amplified music and added boat traffic might change that experience. The city and project team indicated the design retains fishing access and plans railing and accessible fishing areas along the proposed breakwater.

Permitting, schedule and docks Duane Booth of Half Associates (civil engineer) and Powell described permitting steps and timelines. Booth said U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permitting for the docks is a long-lead item and estimated roughly a 12‑month process. Staff added that DEP could process some dock permits in about six months if the project met thresholds for state delegation, but the proposed docks and dredge/fill footprint likely exceed that threshold and will require Army Corps review; St. Johns River Water Management District permits will be required for the landward stormwater components.

Staff noted the city could split the project so the docks' permitting begins earlier than the landward park design, at the cost of duplicative reviews. Powell recommended early permitting for docks so the project can proceed in parallel with land design work.

Phasing and what can be built first Council members and staff discussed breaking the project into phases so the Veterans Memorial, First Responders Memorial and the LiveWell-funded tiered seating could move forward sooner while dock permitting proceeds. The LiveWell Foundation's chair of the board, Rodney Dravi, and LiveWell director Donna Kirkland explained the foundation's grant intent: public health and wellness access to the waterfront, ADA access and a tiered seating area intended for civic reflection and low-impact events rather than a commercial amphitheater.

Parking, DeJolla property and downtown planning Councilmembers debated downtown parking and where a parking garage should be located. Staff presented multiple cost/size options for a potential parking garage ranging from about $9.29 million for a 3‑story, 292‑stall structure to $17.94 million for a 5‑story, 737‑stall structure; other intermediate options were presented in the staff slides. Council members and staff discussed the DeJolla property (recently under contract by the city), the potential to provide structured parking there and the need to coordinate with the city’s broader downtown planning effort (DPZ and an American Bike Association/consultant engagement were referenced).

CRA funding, impact fees and next steps CRA members asked staff to assess whether CRA funds could cover portions of downtown planning and code work; council members discussed using recreation impact-fee reserves for part of the project. Staff and the city finance director outlined that some impact-fee money and CRA reserves exist but noted budget amendments and CRA board votes would be required before spending. The council also directed staff to return with refined cost and funding options and noted a separate council agenda item would address funding decisions.

What the council asked staff to do Council and staff discussed scheduling and next steps: staff aims to finish construction-level drawings in May (design schedule) and recommended initiating docks permitting with the Army Corps as a parallel track to save time. Booth estimated Army Corps permitting could add roughly 12 months and DEP review about six months if applicable. Powell and staff said the city can phase and prioritize memorial and tiered-seating elements and begin dock permitting earlier if council directs it. Multiple council members asked staff to return with refined designs, phased cost estimates and clear funding options at upcoming meetings.