Watkins Motor Lines is hitting a roadblock in its plans to build a massive trucking terminal near US-27 and State Road 50 in south Lake County, Fla.

A group of residents calling themselves Citizens for Responsible Growth is opposing the 150-bay terminal, planned for just north and west of the S.R. 50 and Lake Boulevard intersection in Clermont, Fla.

As reported by the Orlando Sentinel, Michael Leo, a resident organizing against the facility, is concerned about the noise the terminal will bring, as well as how it will look. He also sees a problem with the amount of truck traffic, which could cause additional damage to S.R. 50.
While Citizens for Responsible Growth praised economic development in the area, the group insists a trucking complex is not appropriate for the chosen site.
Watkins attorney Bruce Duncan said the property is zoned for the trucking facility, which would have 85,000 square feet and would develop about 70 acres. He also maintains the Watkins trucks will not use small country roads in the neighborhoods around the site, and that the company is only interested in the site because it is close to S.R. 50, U.S. Highway 27 and the Florida's Turnpike, according to the Sentinel.
Watkins officials expect 100 to 250 trucks to come in and out of the facility every day, and hope to open the terminal by mid-2001. Plans for the terminal could expand the facility to 300 trucking bays in five to 10 years. The company also plans to landscape the site heavily to make the location more "aesthetically pleasing," as well as pay for a traffic light outside the facility on S.R. 50.