LAKE COUNTY — The Lake County Community Development Department is inviting public involvement in preparation for the release of a draft EIR for the Lake County General Plan update. Two workshops took place this week, one at the Brick Hall in Lower Lake and one in Lake County Supervisors Chambers in Lakeport.
A goals and policies report draft is presently available for review. “You”ve got a good couple of months to go through this to the level that you want to,” said Rick Rust with Matrix Design Group, adding that comments could be accepted by mid-January to be addressed when compiling a draft Environmental Impact Report.
A small group braved winter rains to attend Monday”s workshop at the Brick Hall. Rust and Rick Coel, the county”s community development director, summarized the county”s process for creating the general plan update. A draft Environmental Impact Report could be ready by the end of January and subject to public review. The county hopes to begin hearings in March.
Rust stressed that nothing in the general plan is currently “set in stone” except for a housing element that had an earlier state deadline. Everything else in the general plan is still subject to consideration.
Lake County has contracted with Matrix Design Group to update its general plan. The general plan addresses land use, housing, public facilities and services, transportation and circulation, health and safety, noise, open space, conservation and recreation; geothermal resources and water resources.
Some of the key changes, Rust stated, include limiting urban development within Community Growth Boundaries (CSD)s. This new policy will regulate development in Clearlake Oaks, Clear Lake Riviera, Coyote Valley, Kelseyville, Lower Lake, Lucerne, Middletown, Nice, North Lakeport, Soda Bay, South Lakeport and Upper Lake.
Rust said most CSDs were existing community boundaries that had previously been set. “There was no wholesale attempt to enlarge the communities.”
Another issue, Rust added, concerns available infrastructure. An “Issues and Alternatives Report” recommends ensuring that growth does not occur unless adequate infrastructure is available in the area.
The goals and policies report draft is available for review at county libraries. Printed copies can be purchased at-cost from the Community Development Department, located on the third floor of the Lake County Courthouse. The document is available for download from the County of Lake”s Web site, www.co.lake.ca.us/. Coel indicated he can also burn copies to CD.
Contact Cynthia Parkhill at cparkhill@clearlakeobserver.com.
