Wayne Weatherbee, purchased property what was then A&S Auto, located across the street from his shop, in downtown Clermont. The A&S building, dating back to 1940, originally operated as a gas station and Wayne’s plan was to expand the space and eventually relocate his business there.
That plan quickly hit a roadblock. The City of Clermont denied his expansion and relocation requests, citing a 1991 zoning change that eliminated auto repair as a permitted use downtown. Ordinarily, this might fall under the category of “what happens when you don’t do your homework,” but Wayne’s case was different—he had already been operating as a downtown auto mechanic for nine years when the rule change occurred. He was never informed of the proposal or its approval.
The dispute led to years of litigation, covering both the land-use restrictions and the protest signs Wayne posted on the A&S property. In the protest-sign case, Wayne—represented by the ACLU—won a clear legal victory. The land-use battle ended in a draw: Wayne ultimately obtained the permits and clearances he needed, but was never awarded damages.
In the end, the city’s long-term vision for the site prevailed.
In 2019, Wayne was diagnosed with a rare cancer and passed away on New Year’s Day 2020 at the age of 54. His daughter reopened Bee’s Auto but has recently sold the property. According to GrowthSpotter, an Orlando-based real estate firm brokered the sale of the 898 W. Montrose St. property for $1.05 million and secured a 10-year net lease with Pups Pub.…