Denise Rockenstein – Clear Lake Observer-American
CLEARLAKE ? A crowd of 150 people packed the council chambers Monday night and most of those who spoke expressed their anger at the city?s recent actions denying building permits for small-size lots.
After hearing comments from the audience for more than two hours, the council accepted the recommendation from City Attorney Dennis Cota ? that directed staff to prepare an amendment to city ordinances pertaining to minimum lot sizes and lots of record. The amendment will come before the council on Thursday, May 25.
Most of those who spoke Monday night insisted the council take immediate action and to interpret the ordinances the way they had been for 20 years, since the ordinances were first adopted in 1986. Longtime councilman Bob Malley seemed to agree with the crowd. He said he had spoken to prior council members and said he is against the way the ordinances are currently being interpreted. ?This was not ever the intent of the ordinances to stop development. It is business as usual that is being interrupted.?
Many of those who spoke were homeowners, contractors, real estate agents and developers. A few spoke in favor of the city?s current interpretation ? that a 50-by-100-foot lot is too small for a septic system and therefore cannot be developed ? but most did not.
The change in the city?s interpretation came at the end of April when Angela Basch was named interim planning director. Although she was at Monday night?s meeting, she had no comment.
Mayor Joyce Overton was not in favor of making a decision Monday night. She said she wanted city staff to bring back an amendment to the city?s current ordinances, so an informed, fair decision could be made.
Jeff Smith, a former councilman, said the ordinances? interpretation is up to the city council. He said he spoke on his behalf and that of Ed Robey, who was mayor in 1986 when the ordinances were first adopted. ?It is not the intent to stop building on 50-by-100 lots. The reason it went on for 20 years is because it was being interpreted correctly,? he said.
The meeting began with a presentation on septic systems by John Shaw, a wastewater management specialist. He took no side in the fight, but described what a septic system does and the potential environmental hazards from an inadequate system.
Contact Denise Rockenstein at the drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com.
