LAKEPORT — The Lake County/City Area Planning Council unanimously agreed Wednesday to move forward to complete an environmental impact report for improvements to Highway 29.
Continuing to pursue the report could only benefit the area, as it”s mostly funded through Caltrans and lacking the document could stop even small projects to improve the highway, said Lisa Davey-Bates, executive director of the council.
Council staff expects the report to be finished by July 2012.
Council members also said they would like to consider smaller capital improvement projects on Highway 29, such as passing lanes.
The council decided to consider improvements to Highway 20 for traffic calming, possibly roundabouts and bike and pedestrian improvements for safety.
Council members also said they would like to look into capital improvement projects on local streets in the county.
The council discussed using local funding as leverage for state and federal grants.
The council will also sponsor workshops for the community to plan and guide the council on land use and transportation, as Lake County”s population is projected to grow by 50 percent by 2030.
Participants can review the Lake County 2030 Blueprint Vision and Principles and learn about and comment on four different growth scenarios. Each workshop around the county will be identical.
“A long-range vision such as Lake County 2030 is critical, mainly because transportation, jobs, housing, and open space must be planned together,” Davey-Bates said.
In Lakeport, a workshop will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Feb. 24 at the Lakeport Senior Center at 527 Konocti Ave.
The workshop in Lucerne will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Feb. 25 at the Lucerne Alpine Senior Center at 3985 Country Club Drive.
In Middletown, the council will hold the workshop from 10 a.m. to noon Feb. 27 at the Calpine Visitors Center at 15500 Third St.
The workshop in Kelseyville will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Kelseyville Senior Center at 5245 Third St.
In Clearlake, the workshop will be held from 10 a.m. to noon March 6 at El Grande Hotel at 15135 Lakeshore Drive.
Contact Katy Sweeny at kdsweeny@gmail.com or call her directly at 263-5636, ext. 37.
