LAKEPORT — After five and a half hours of discussion, the Lake County Board of Supervisors postponed its decision Tuesday on an appeal that could halt the development of the Cristallago subdivision project north of Lakeport.
The Sierra Club Lake Group appealed the Planning Commission”s September certification of the Final Environmental Impact (EIR) report before the board and more than 100 people. The project would include 650 houses, a golf course and 325 resort units.
In order for developers to move forward with detailed plans of the project, the board would have to deny the Sierra Club”s appeal and approve rezoning, which the board also postponed.
Supervisor Denise Rushing said she wasn”t sure the EIR tells the board what environmental effects they are trading for the development of the project.
“Maybe we”ve got enough information, but I have to think about it,” Rushing said.
Rushing said she”s concerned about effects of the project but also that the county will not have control over possible effects and future focused EIRs if the board denies the appeal.
“We”ve heard from people, ?The EIR is not done, it should go back,”” Supervisor Rob Brown said “When is it enough? When is it complete?”
Brown said he doesn”t think some people will ever be satisfied with the report.
The report is a program EIR that is meant to address basic problems and cumulative impacts of the development along with a tiered system of focused EIRs to address issues that arise as the project phases are designed, county counsel Anita Grant said.
“Even if we make a decision right now we still have to come back,” Brown said.
The board will continue deliberation on the appeal without additional public comment to 9:45 a.m. Feb. 9. Board members continued the public hearing on rezoning issues for the development to 1:30 p.m. March 2.
Chairman Anthony Farrington said water, traffic, serpentine soil and the oak woodlands are some of the important issues brought up by the EIR.
Victoria Brandon representing the Sierra Club asked the board to reverse the certification of the EIR, address the issues and recirculate the report.
David Nelson representing the Cristallago Development Corporation said he thinks the EIR has adequate information and addressed the development”s effects.
The Cristallago project along with homes and a golf course would include a community center, spa, restaurant, conference facility, nature preserve and resort units including timeshares, fractional share units, condominium hotels and a hotel on Hill Road and Scotts Valley Road north of Lakeport.
The board addressed a number of other issues during the morning portion of the meeting.
Board members discussed sewage spills for the Southeast Regional Wastewater Collection System in Clearlake caused by drains connected against regulation to the sewage system. The extra water causes overflows of highly diluted water.
County staff will continue to haul water out of the system to avoid fines and the nuisance.
The board asked staff to change the Water Resources director job description to say a college degree is preferable, not required, and to better screen for leadership skills.
Pat Akers of the California Department of Food and Agriculture gave the board a report on the hydrilla invasive weed that clogs water flow and impairs recreation in Clear Lake and other waterways. People can call to report hydrilla for eradication at 263-1649.
The board agreed to submit a proposal to operate the Local One-Stop.
Board members unanimously voted to appoint David Estep to the Lower Lake Waterworks District 1 Board of Directors.
Contact Katy Sweeny at ksweeny@record-bee.com or call her directly at 263-5636, ext. 37.
