LAKEPORT — A new bed and breakfast and an exemption to the citywide hiring freeze were approved by the Lakeport City Council Tuesday.
The Lakeport City Council voted 3-2 to approve a use permit to allow Gregory Gill to open a bed and breakfast at Number 2, 16th Street. In an August council discussion, neighbors expressed concerns to the council about noise, traffic and parking in the low-density residential area if the use permit is approved. According to city records, Gill”s current proposal includes two rooms, with the option to expand to three rooms.
“I am not a flop house or a wild party manager, as has been suggested by my neighbors. My wife and I and my parents live here. I am a traditionalist,” Gill said.
Four neighbors and Lakeport residents spoke in favor of the project. Gill”s Lakeport attorney Andre Ross read a letter from Dennis Stanley vouching for Gill”s good character and supporting the project. Neighbor Susan King said while she thought the Gills meant well, she still had concerns.
“My concern is, what can you say to assure us that there are practices and policies in place to prevent another business from moving in to a very residential place,” neighbor Susan King said.
Todd Falconer said a letter opposing the project was circulated in the neighborhood and more than 40 neighbors signed it.
Councilmen Ron Bertsch and Jim Irwin were in dissent. Bertsch said he didn”t think enough parking was available without creating a double use for the neighboring parcel, which Gill also owns.
Gill said he has enough parking to accommodate cars and trailers for the guests of two and possibly three rooms. He said he intends to rent the home on the neighboring parcel on a monthly basis.
Irwin said the application was for one parcel, but by Gill”s own admission, both were necessary to make the bed and breakfast work. He said the parcel that would be used as a bed and breakfast was not big enough for the project, and believed parking would still be a problem.
In a 4-1 vote, the council excused its utility department from a hiring freeze the city approved earlier this summer in order to fill a supervisor position. Councilman Jim Irwin was in dissent.
In a memo to the council, Utilities and Community Development Department Director Mark Brannigan said the department “took action to separate the water operations supervisor from city employment” and was considering closing a surface water treatment facility to maintain operations while the position remained unfilled.
Contact Tiffany Revelle at trevelle@record-bee.com.
