Council advances Bloxom/Blossom office rezoning, asks developer to add Bloxom entrance

The Claremont City Council gave initial approval (introduction) to a rezoning request for an office project referenced as the Blossom/Bloxom offices (Ordinance 2025-028) and amended the introduction to ask the developer to add an entrance and exit on Bloxom Avenue.

Planning staff and the Planning & Zoning chair said the applicant’s proposal included 82 parking spaces and that residential live-work units were not intended; the applicant had not requested a Bloxom access in the original submittal. Planning Chair Brian Bane told council that the planning commission approved the project as presented but acknowledged neighbors’ concerns about traffic on Blossom/Bloxom.

Several council members said routing all traffic onto State Road 27 could worsen congestion and urged the developer to pursue a Bloxom entrance subject to Florida Department of Transportation approval. One council member moved and the council accepted an amendment to the introductory motion asking that the developer return at second reading with an ingress/egress on Bloxom and assurances about sidewalks and landscape compliance.

Why it matters: The change is procedural (introduction), but the council used the introduction to signal neighborhood-protection priorities (local access and sidewalks) that will be part of final conditions. Requiring a Bloxom access would shift some trip distribution off the state highway and affect traffic patterns for nearby residential areas.

What’s next: The ordinance was advanced on introduction with the Bloxom-access request; staff and the applicant will revisit ingress/egress options and state permitting before final reading.

Provenance: discussion and PNZ summary (transcript SEG 1296–SEG 1310); applicant, staff and PNZ chair remarks and council amendment through SEG 1570.