CLERMONT, Fla. – Downtown Clermont is growing, and city leaders are looking at ways to address a parking shortage that residents and business owners say is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore.
A special committee is expected to meet Thursday to begin developing a plan for a potential future parking garage in the downtown area.
According to the city’s latest parking study, completed in 2024, downtown Clermont has roughly 1,100 parking spaces. But as more people live, work and visit the area, those spaces can fill quickly — particularly during popular events.
“Clermont kind of struggles with that lately, but in moderation,” said Clermont resident Adam Atherton. “Parking starts to get really difficult, especially when you’re doing First Friday or some of the other activities. Yeah, it can be difficult to park here.”
Lake County resident Riley Hill said the area’s popularity adds to the challenge.
“It’s a really busy area,” Hill said. “Alongside the people that come to visit around here, like me, there’s also the people that live here as well.”
A look at downtown on a Thursday afternoon showed many parking areas already filling up.
For local businesses, the issue can directly affect customers.
“We’ve got to get this solved. This is the number one biggest problem, right? Right now,” said Amanda Walsh, owner of Cheeser’s Palace Café.
Several downtown businesses have limited parking near their storefronts. Some say they ask employees to park farther away so the closest spaces remain available for customers.
Business owners say a parking garage could make it easier for visitors to find a space without spending time circling downtown.
The committee is considering two potential locations for a garage.
One option would place the garage behind City Hall. The other would locate it farther up the street near Mineola Avenue and Seventh Street.
Mike Wacht with the City of Clermont said the Mineola Avenue and Seventh Street location already has parking, which could make it easier to develop.
“There’s already parking, existing parking there,” Wacht said. “So it doesn’t require redevelopment. It doesn’t require knocking down buildings or having an impact on the commercial district.”
The city has not yet determined how large the garage could be or how many additional parking spaces it would provide.
An architect will work with the committee to develop potential designs. Once the options are evaluated, the committee is expected to present its recommendation to city leaders on September 22.
For downtown residents and business owners, the goal is to find a solution before Clermont’s continued growth puts even more pressure on the area’s limited parking supply.