In its second attempt in 12 months, Atlanta-based Home Depot Inc. is asking Clermont's planning and zoning commission today for permission to build an estimated $11 million, 130,000-sf retail store and garden center at a new location.

Home Depot's entry in the south Lake County market will directly challenge an existing Scotty's home improvement center. The Winter Haven, FL-based chain, once the dominant hardware hub in Central Florida, has fallen behind in sales volume to relatively new players in the state such as Home Depot, Lowes and Ace Hardware.

The new Home Depot site is on the west side of the Kash n' Karry shopping center where connector roads are in place. Home Depot's first site selection was west of Oakley Seaver Drive. That location is near a former Wal-Mart Stores Inc. planned store at the southeast corner of U.S. 27 and State Road 50, the busiest intersection in south Lake County.