Commissioners recommend EMS ambulance station at 1227 Bloxham Avenue with hedgerow condition; vote 4-2

The City of Clermont Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval of Resolution 2025-024R to permit use of the existing building at 1227 Bloxham Avenue as a Lake County EMS ambulance location, voting 4-2.

John Cruz of Development Services presented the request, stating the site is zoned R-3 residential professional and that the proposed EMS location is not explicitly listed in the code as a conditional use; the code allows the commission and council to permit similar uses after review. Staff recommended approval with conditions addressing on-site operations, potential right-of-way repairs and off-site safety improvements if warranted. Cruz said the building is an existing single-family structure (1,183 sq ft) with a concrete apron and gravel parking, and that site improvements would be required to meet life-safety code if county personnel occupy the building overnight.

Michelle Wilkinson, representing Lake County (applicant/property manager), said the county intends initially to station one ambulance (they answered the application maximum as two) and up to four on-site personnel during shift changes, and that life-safety upgrades such as fire sprinklers likely will be required.

Pamela DeCambre, who lives next door at 1211 Bloxham Avenue, spoke in opposition, citing noise, 24/7 activity and safety and sight-line concerns when ambulances pull in and out. Commissioners repeatedly asked applicants and staff about parking, ingress/egress, potential lighting and siren use, and whether the county had conducted outreach to neighbors ahead of the application; staff said mailed notices and standard postings went to the required radius but Lake County had not broadly met with neighbors before filing.

Lake County Public Safety Director David Kilburn said the county's intent is to be a good neighbor, operate conservatively (turning on lights or sirens only as necessary) and use the concrete apron for ambulance staging; he said ambulances typically use shore power to maintain onboard equipment and that crews would generally not remain with lights or sirens on while parked. County representatives said the site is intended to address EMS coverage gaps inside the city and that the county will perform required life-safety upgrades before any overnight occupancy.

Commissioner discussion centered on resident impacts (noise, diesel engines, backing alarms), parking (staff vehicles and ambulance access), and the absence of early neighborhood outreach. At the end of the hearing, Commissioner David Kramer moved to approve Resolution 2025-024R with an added condition requiring a hedgerow to screen the neighboring homeowner from driveway views toward Bloxham Avenue; Commissioner May seconded. The motion passed 4-2 (ayes: Behn, Kramer, Tadona, May; nays: Neemiek, Hoisington). The motion also notes the site will be used "as is" per the applicant's request, that any city right-of-way damage caused by operations must be repaired by the applicant, and that the on-site ambulance count is limited to two with a maximum of four personnel on-site, per the resolution language.

The commission's recommendation will be forwarded to City Council for final action. County staff indicated they expect to complete required fire-life-safety work and could begin operations as soon as mid-October if council approves and inspections are completed.