CLERMONT, Fla. – Previously famous for its extensive orange groves, Clermont has experienced a significant evolution in recent years. Although the citrus trees have mostly disappeared, the growth of the city’s population is notably thriving.

As development accelerates, longtime residents are voicing concern about the rapid changes reshaping their community.

“I kind of describe it as a small town but not a small town,” said Eva Dole.

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Dole has observed Clermont’s transformation firsthand. She remembers when commercial development was almost nonexistent along key routes like U.S. 27.

“There was a time when you could look toward where the Publix stands now on U.S. 27, and it was entirely orange groves,” she noted. “Today, it’s filled with numerous stores.”

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According to U.S. Census data, Clermont’s population has nearly doubled over the past decade. Many residents feel the influx of new housing and businesses has come at the cost of the city’s small-town character.

“When you’re driving and all you see are buildings and it’s bumper-to-bumper traffic, it’s very difficult to feel like you’re in a small town,” Dole said.

For Dole, the growing presence of popular chains and big-box retailers once exclusive to nearby Orlando is both surprising and overwhelming.

“I know everybody wanted a Costco, everyone wants Trader Joe’s and all the other stores that Orlando has,” she said. “I did not think we would get it as quick as we did.”

The growth shows no sign of slowing. One of the region’s most ambitious developments is Wellness Way, a 20,000-acre master-planned area along U.S. 27 near Lake Louisa State Park. Plans call for 15,000 homes, some of which are already under construction.

Lake County Commissioner Sean Parks represents South Lake, including Clermont. He acknowledges both the benefits and growing pains associated with the area’s rapid development.

“I think the growth has brought some good things, but definitely there’s a lot of concern right now,” Parks said.

A Central Florida native, Parks said he shares in residents’ surprise over the pace of change.

“I tell people, ‘Look, I live here too. I’m a Central Florida native,’” he said. “I’m shocked at what I see. I get it.”

Parks is advocating for improved growth management strategies, including updates to development codes and water resource protections.

“I do think that lack of planning and mistakes have been made in the past,” he explained. “We’re trying to protect our water resources. We’re changing some of our development codes to protect that as well. I think when people see that, they’ll start to have a little more hope.”

For residents like Dole, the transformation is a daily reality — one that’s becoming harder to ignore.

“You try not to look at it always as a bad thing, but the more it happens and the longer it takes to get from point A to point B when it used to be a 10-minute drive and now it’s a 25-minute drive, it starts to take a toll on you,” she said.