LAKEPORT?Environmental advocates, lawyers, business owners and others were evidently dividing in their support and opposition of the Cristallago development on Hill Road north of Lakeport at Thursday”s Lake County Planning Commission meeting.
The development plans to include 650 single-family residential lots, an 18-hole golf course and clubhouse, community center, spa, restaurant, conference facility, nature preserve and 325 resort units.
After about five hours of discussion on the final environmental impact report, the commission did not make a decision and will continue the hearing, allowing for additional public comment, most likely on Oct. 22. Bill Kearney, a business owner, said he has trouble getting pharmacists to work for him because there”s no golf course or shopping center nearby.
“We need stuff in this county to keep people here,” Kearney said.
Jesse Gonzales, representative for the Scotts Valley band of Pomo Indians, said it will be difficult for construction workers to discern bones and requested that an American Indian monitor be present when soil is moved.
“I”m here to make sure our ancestors are protected,” Gonzales said.
Commissioner Clelia Baur said the public brought up some “very serious concerns” such as asbestos in the dirt, archeological sites and unanswered questions in the environmental report that she would like to see addressed.
Commissioner Cliff Swetnam said he was worried if the commissioners approved the report that the commission wouldn”t have a chance to settle issues and unanswered questions.
Richard Coel, community development director, said even if the commissioners certify the report, the project would still come back to the commission for permit and environmental impact reviews.
Geoff Reilly, vice president of the environmental planning and research firm used to prepare the report, addressed the problems people had with unanswered questions in the report.
“Not every question needs to be answered, nor is that possible,” Reilly said. The public hearing on Stott Outdoor Advertising”s proposal to construct a billboard at 18350 and 18345 Empire Lane in Middletown was continued until Sept. 24.
The planning commission will meet 9 a.m. Sept. 24 in the Board of Supervisors chambers in the Lake County Superior Court at 255 N. Forbes St. in Lakeport.
