MIDDLETOWN — No action was taken by the Board of Supervisors following a lengthy discussion of the Middletown Area Plan Update Tuesday.
The board sat without Supervisors Anthony Farrington and Denise Rushing and decided to give the absent representatives an opportunity to view the video before casting their votes.
The item, which was discussed at the Calpine Geothermal Visitors Center in Middletown, was continued to 1:30 p.m. Aug. 10 in Supervisors Chambers.
The Middletown Area Plan encompasses about 150 square miles of unincorporated territory including the communities of Middletown, Hidden Valley Lake and Anderson Springs. The area plan was last updated in 1989.
The plan, which is complementary to the county”s General Plan, has been a work in progress with use of an advisory committee for the past six years. The draft document was made available to the public in December 2009. Lake County Planning Commission certified the Environmental Impact Report that accompanies the plan on June 10.
The Middletown Area Plan is a guide for long-term growth and development throughout the next 20 years. It is a planning tool that is to facilitate refined planning decisions based on community values and priorities of the residents in the area. The relationship between the General Plan and an area plan must be mutually complementary and consistent.
The higher level of policy accountability for the area plan ensures the residents of the future that the vision of the citizens in 2009 is carried out and adopted.
The long-range plan is to provide adequate land use allocations to meet the community”s needs while also protecting vital natural resources. The Middletown Area Plan includes three special study areas: Middletown, Coyote Valley and Langtry/Guenoc Valley. Environmental concerns have been identified and policies developed to protect the unique natural features of the area.
The plan aims to promote a diversified economic base, protect prime agricultural areas, guide future development and establish Community Growth Boundaries (CGBs) among other goals.
The Middletown Special Study Area report found that measures should be taken to enhance the economic viability of the area while preserving the unique historical qualities of the downtown area.
Commercial development should be diversified. Mixed use development with residences above the commercial uses should be considered. The development of a comprehensive parking plan is critical to the health of the local business community.
The Coyote Valley Special Study Area report found that commercial development should be diversified to provide retail and entertainment services to the region while at the same time encouraging the development of new job opportunities in areas other than the retail service sector. Mixed use development with residences above the commercial uses should be considered. Focus is centered on the establishment of a town center on the north side of Hartmann Road between Highway 29 and Coyote Valley Road.
The Langtry/Guenoc Valley Special Study Area report contains the vision for future development of the 16,000-acre Langtry property in more detail with a goal of allowing the flexibility to create an economically diverse job base, innovative resort/residential communities, agri-tourism opportunities and resort-related uses while at the same time protecting significant agricultural lands, open space and natural resources of the area.
The primary item of discussion related to the plan on Tuesday was with regard to projected growth and extending community boundaries to accommodate that growth. Those speaking in favor of extending the boundaries were fairly balanced by those speaking in opposition. First District Supervisor Jim Comstock, who represents the Middletown area, said that while the previous area plan established boundaries larger than needed to accommodate growth, the decision was sound.
“It would be narrow-minded to ignore potential growth just because we didn”t fill in the boundaries set in 1989,” Comstock said. “I think the neighbors have a right to know what”s going to be put in beside them.”
While some agreed with Comstock”s reasoning, some did not, arguing that expansion of boundaries is not needed at this time.
Contact South County reporter Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com or call her directly at 994-6444, ext. 11.
