KELSEYVILLE — Speculation over whether or not Konocti Harbor Resort & Spa will be sold to developer Darius Anderson pricked the ears of those present at a meeting on the county”s plan to rezone the Rivieras area in Kelseyville.
The draft of the Rivieras Area Plan involves an area in central Kelseyville including shoreline property from the state park as far south and east as Jago Bay, with the southern boarder extending to just south of Highway 29.
Senior Planner Emily Minton, acting as project manager for the plan, explained that the current zoning for the area is based on the county”s General Plan from 1981, and that the zoning is “outdated.”
The proposed zoning has three goals, Minton said: To zone property according to how it is currently being used, to direct where development may occur and to decrease the allowable density due to the steepness of the terrain at the base of Mount Konocti, possible fire hazards, landslide risks and inadequate access.
“The idea was to support the community,” said Rick Coel, Community Development Department assistant director.
In the midst of the rezoning upheaval, Jay Wallace a partner in Anderson”s real estate company, Kenwood Investments came to state the developer and lobbyist”s intentions for Konocti Harbor Resort & Spa.
In his letter to the planning commission, Kenwood Investments is referred to repeatedly as the “new owners of the Konocti Harbor Resort & Spa.” Wallace noted in the letter that the real estate firm is “in contract to acquire” the resort, and will close escrow on or about Feb. 15, 2007.
Anderson”s plans for the resort include developing homes on the east and west ends of the property, which would require some residential zoning.
Wallace said medium density would be required for the west end, and “high density, or a cluster of not more than a couple hundred homes” is planned for the east end.
The purpose of developing homes around Konocti Harbor Resort & Spa, said Wallace, would be to help fund the changes planned for the resort to turn it into a “first-class, modern resort.” Plans in general, he added, would involve making it a year-round resort.
“The market will drive decision making,” Wallace noted, adding that there is currently market demand for the kind of housing Anderson has planned for the resort property.
Wallace said he wanted to remind the commission that Kenwood Investments is a firm known for “sensitive development,” citing the company”s management of Treasure Island in San Francisco.
The commission expressed that its concern is not so much who owns the property or what their plans may be but that the zoning be consistent with what the area needs.
Attorney Peter Windrem also appeared to represent his client, Local 38 of the United Association of Plumbers, Pipefitters and Journeymen, who have owned Konocti Harbor Resort & Spa since 1959.
The Planning Commission had received a letter from Windrem, who also refers to the UA Local 38 as the resort”s owners. Windrem noted in his letter that the UA”s Trust Fund, with whom Anderson has been in negotiations over the property, requests that the property be zoned CR, or Commercial Resort.
Both parties requested that the decision regarding the particular parcel on which the resort sits be held off until the planning commission”s next hearing regarding the plan, which is scheduled for 10:15 a.m. Oct. 26 in the Board of Supervisors” chambers.
When asked if negotiations would be decided by then, Windrem said, “Probably not, but we”d like the time to get further toward resolution.”
Contact Tiffany Revelle at trevelle@record-bee.com.
