The City of Clearlake City Council and Redevelopment Agency is considering the sale of the airport property to an established shopping center developer on. The anchor store for the project is Lowe”s. Years ago the Revelopment Agency purchased the property with the specific purpose of retail development.
In 2007 the Clearlake Vision Task Force issued its report. It envisioned:
“The City of 2020 is a retail center for the county. Retail needs for our citizens as well as the county are well served. Being a retail hub provides jobs for our citizens, revenues for the City of Clearlake, and amenities to attract future citizens and employers.”
“The City of 2020 is recognized for its transition from a small resort town to a world class small City.”
Those were bold statements in 2007. The Task Force knew where it wanted the city to go, but how was another question. Now our city is poised to make a giant step toward achieving these visions. What an opportunity!
The proposed project is not a “strip mall.” It is the core of what will be a regional shopping center with other major outlets in addition to Lowe”s. Walgreen”s is already developing the adjacent site. Its plans, as well as the developer, includes spaces for restaurants, clothing and shoe chains, and other retail outlets presently under-served in our county.
The fact that the retail needs of the county are under-served is well documented. Detailed analysis of retail sales data showed that Lake County residents spend many of their retail dollars in the surrounding counties. Why? Because the all have major regional shopping centers. None of the outlets available there are available here. With the approval of this project the City of Clearlake will be setting the stage to keeping retail purchases “local” instead of having to “go over the hill.”
The proposal before the Redevelopment Agency has a huge bonus for the City of Clearlake and Special Districts. The city has a sewer problem that will limit growth and causes dumping of raw sewage into the lake during heavy rains. The Agency will be appropriately asked to allocate redevelopment funds for sewer upgrades to allow the shopping center project to proceed and also fix the problems with the present system. And, the proposal proposes a funding mechanism that will provide for repayment of the money! What an opportunity!
I urge the Redevelopment Agency to approve the sale of the airport property. It is a win-win for our city and our citizens. What an opportunity!
Albert F. Bernal
City of Clearlake Vision Task Force Member
