How heartening to discover that so many citizens of Lakeport want to preserve the Natural High site as public open space, with the possibility of its eventual use as a city park. Selling off this unique treasure – the only remaining Main Street location with visual access to Clear Lake and physical access to the shoreline – for the transitory gains offered by private developers would be like burning heirloom antiques to take the chill off the living room.
Unfortunately some members of the city council seem to be letting dollar signs prevail over common sense. Equally unfortunately, a false impression has been created that their determination to facilitate commercial development on the site is “unanimous,” as stated in the June 23 Record-Bee and repeated in John Silver”s July 13 opinion piece.
On June 19 the Lakeport City Council did indeed approve changing the parcel”s General Plan designation from “Open Space” to “Residential/Resort” (thus eliminating the thrifty possibility of tapping into Quimby Act funds to acquire it from the school district later on), but far from being unanimous, this shortsighted decision hung by the flimsiest of threads. Only three of the five councilors were in attendance and one of them voted No.
The Lakeport Planning Commission”s upcoming discussion of the General Plan will provide an opportunity for a decisive expression of opinion in favor of retaining this wonderful public asset for public benefit.
In the meantime, all Lakeport residents are urged to phone, write, and email their councilors (contact information at redwood.sierraclub.org/lake), to speak to them in person at every opportunity, and also drop into Watershed Books (305 N. Main St) to sign a petition opposing the zoning change. Other concerned citizens of Lake County should make their voices heard as well, since the destiny of our county seat is our rightful business whether we live in Middletown, Blue Lakes, or points between.
Victoria Brandon
Chair, Sierra Club
Lower Lake
