Commission approves bigger mailed notice radius for land‑use cases, staff will continue best‑practice buffer

The City of Clermont Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously approved ordinance 2026‑026 to expand mailed notice for certain land‑use and development applications from 150 feet to 450 feet, an increase staff characterized as a 200% expansion of written notification distance intended to improve public awareness and participation.

Nick Gonzales, Development Services, said the change affects conditional use permits, variances, rezonings, future land‑use map amendments and Live Local Act projects. The draft requires mailed notice to property owners within 450 feet and adds language directing notice to homeowners associations or condominium associations if parcels in the radius are governed by those associations; staff indicated newspaper publication and onsite signage requirements are unchanged.

Brian Bain, Clermont City Council (seat 2), spoke in support and explained that staff practice already adds an extra 50 feet to the mailed radius for mapping reasons, so in practice notices reach roughly 500 feet in many instances. Bain said the larger radius and HOA notification were intended to reduce the number of neighbors who go unnotified under the prior 150‑foot standard; he also noted notices already go to Lake County Schools and the county commission when applicable.

Commissioners praised the change and debated whether the ordinance should explicitly require 500 feet; staff said the additional 50 feet is a department best practice that errs on the side of caution to avoid missing parcels. Commissioner Nemec moved to adopt ordinance 2026‑026; the motion was seconded and passed unanimously.