Recently, three of my neighbors and I attended a presentation by Caltrans regarding the improvement of Highway 29 between Diener Road in Lower Lake and approximately one mile west of Highway 175 in Kelseyville. This presentation was attended by several residents, Caltrans and county officials, and some county supervisors.
Sometime in 2009, Caltrans is going to change the current two-lane configuration to a four-lane expressway. This will allow all large vehicles and those carrying hazardous material to completely bypass Highway 20 around the lake.
Bill Hillman, one of my neighbors, already has written a letter to the editor addressing the fact that the new four-lane expressway should be extended to Kelseyville. This will reduce the large amount of traffic accidents occurring on the twisting section of Highway 29, between Highway 175 and Kelseyville.
I have additional concerns. Currently, Highway 29 is approximately a half-mile away from my property and those of my neighbors. The noise level of the current traffic is barely within acceptable range. The new four-lane expressway will be constructed half the distance closer to our locations. The reduced distance and the increase in traffic flow also will exponentially increase the noise to an unacceptable level.
Another concern deals with the apparent lack of communication between the county Planning Commission and Caltrans.
Anybody traveling on Highway 29 must have noticed the large news house under construction located on the southeast corner of Highway 29 and Highway 175 leading to Cobb. According to the plans presented by Caltrans, that house sits squarely where the two new eastbound lanes of the improved Highway 29 will be constructed.
This causes me to wonder: Has the owner of the house under construction obtained all necessary permits from all the proper federal, state and county agencies?
If the county issued its permits, wasn”t the Lake County Planning Commission aware of the Caltrans plans regarding the new expressway? If they were aware, why did they issue permits for the construction of the house, knowing it would have to be razed once the new expressway is built?
Was the owner of the house under construction made aware by the Realtor selling the land of the upcoming expressway?
I can see it coming. This will result in all kinds of legal litigation and either the county or Caltrans will have to pay the owner of the house an exorbitant amount of money ? taxpayers” money that could instead be used for other important county projects.
Ugo Innocenti
Kelseyville
