Residents protest "red light" district

Joe Zagame says he owns many of the businesses at Clermont Commons Business Park off Citrus Tower Boulevard, the primary place Clermont City leaders are focused on opening up to adult businesses.

Zagame asks, "Why did the city select Clermont Commons?" Fox 35 asks, "Do you feel you got an answer?" Zagame says, "Partially."

Until now, the city never had reason to address adult businesses; but recently, the city says a man made an inquiry about setting up an adult bookstore.

The city realized federal law required them to rewrite zoning ordinances to accommodate. So now they're grappling with how to rewrite the ordinances.

The problem with the city's focus on Clermont Commons is the way the city ordinance is currently written. It reads, you can't have an adult business district within 1500 feet of a church, an educational facility, or a neighborhood. At the Commons, there are two churches, two daycares, and residential neighborhoods all around.

That's why at least one zoning board member is pushing to have the ordinance rewritten to say 2500 feet.

Federal law says cities and towns cannot use zoning laws and ordinances to make it impossible for adult businesses to open up.

But business owners and nearby residents say it's impossible to imagine their neighborhood becoming what they call a "red light district."

One angry woman dared adult business owners, "Go somewhere else, or we'll make it as miserable for you as possible."

The city council will meet again in two weeks, November 24th, when they are expected to make a decision.