CLERMONT, Fla. – The Clermont City Council voted Tuesday to approve an ordinance that eliminates most flagpole height restrictions, effectively allowing the controversial Camping World Stadium’s Clermont dealership flag to remain in place.
The council approved the ordinance in a 4-1 vote, removing the previous 55-foot height limit on flag poles, but only for the American flag.
The new ordinance requires compliance with Federal Aviation Administration regulations and certification from a structural engineer to ensure building code requirements are met.
The change faced criticism from some residents during the council meeting.
“I really think council time should focus on policies that directly impact the resident’s quality of life and not symbolic ordinances,” said Clermont resident Mike Cramer. “This was pandering.”
Another resident expressed concern about property impacts: “So, if you own a house on East Avenue, your neighbor could have a 200-foot pole as long as FAA said it was okay,” said Clermont resident Bryan Bain. “And no regard to what that could do to your property. And I think that there’s some reasonable concerns with that.”
Councilman Tod Howard, who introduced the proposal earlier this month, addressed potential First Amendment legal challenges.
“Is there somebody out there who may say, ‘You know what, I want to try this and I’m willing to spend, you know, $100,000 to erect a flagpole and to create issues for the city,’” Howard said. “There can be, but then they’ve got to pay attorney’s fees. So where are we going to go with this? I just don’t see anybody doing it.”
Howard initiated the proposal after the city issued a notice to Camping World’s Clermont dealership citing a violation of the city code.
“I really have an issue that you have to pay $800 to come before the council and beg us for our, you know, for our permission to fly a flag that just doesn’t fly. That does not fly well with me,” Howard said.
Mayor Tim Murry cast the sole dissenting vote, expressing concerns about the ordinance change.
“Now we have no, I would say no, law and order and no consistency. If we should be challenged legally, what standards anything to can we judge anything by?” Murry said.
Howard noted that if engineering issues arise with any large American flagpoles, the city maintains the authority to require its removal.