LAKEPORT — The Lake County Planning Commission Thursday voted unanimously to recommend to the Board of Supervisors (BOS) a series of staff-proposed amendments to the county”s zoning ordinance.
The decision came after an hour-long discussion during Thursday”s regular commission meeting at the Lake County Courthouse.
Community Development Director Richard Coel called the amendments “quick fixes” to the zoning ordinance “to diversify uses that are allowed in the county.”
The recommended changes address rules regarding wine tasting facilities, winery-related events, agricultural service establishments, green waste composting facilities, farmers” markets, multi-family residential density and zoning permit revocation.
The changes would encourage economic development and simplify permitting processes, associate planner Brian Horn told the commission.
One wine-related change would allow local vineyard owners in certain zoning districts to apply for a minor use permit to construct a tasting facility on property with or without a winery. The stand-alone tasting room would have to exist on a site with at least 10 acres of producing vines.
The minor use permit process tends to be faster and cost less in application fees, but still requires environmental review and public notification processes, according to Horn.
Another amendment would clarify definitions of allowable winery-related special events.
Small wineries and tasting facilities in certain zoning areas could apply for a minor use permit allowing for promotional events (e.g. winemaker”s dinners) or non-promotional events (e.g. weddings). The presentation of amplified outdoor public events (e.g. concerts) would require a major use permit.
County staff also proposed allowing commercial agricultural service establishments in an Agricultural (“A”) zone after approval of a minor use permit.
Approval of a major use permit is currently required for an “A” district, but such establishments can be created after approval of a minor use permit in two other zoning districts.
Another commission-recommended change would allow green waste composting facilities on parcels of 10 or more acres in the Rural Lands district, following approval of a major use permit and subject to multi-agency and full environmental reviews.
Farmers” markets would be allowed in certain zoning areas with the approval of a zoning permit as opposed to a minor use permit, as currently dictated.
The markets would be approved for sites in commercially zoned areas with adequate facilities to accommodate peak-time customer levels and associated concerns, such as parking and fire suppression. An “A” zoned site with an existing permitted winery or agricultural service establishment and adequate facilities could also be approved.
One minor change would eliminate text regarding multi-family maximum residential density in the zoning ordinance that conflicts with language in the county”s General Plan, Coel said.
Zoning clearance and zoning permit revocations was the other area of recommended changes.
The modifications would allow the community development director to revoke zoning clearances or permits issued by staff that were later deemed to be fraudulent, result in violations of permit conditions or produce a danger to public health and safety.
The commission voted unanimously that those proposed amendments are exempt from California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) guidelines. The commission also unanimously recommended the changes to the BOS.
The commission delayed deciding on proposed zoning ordinance amendments in two other subject areas, asking staff members to further investigate their recommendations.
A series of amendments addressed commercial stables and riding academies. One ordinance change would allow riding academies on parcels of less than 10 acres in certain zoning districts provided no special events occur and boarding is limited.
Several representatives of local equestrian groups asked the commission to delay ruling on those amendments so their committees could review the proposals and make suggestions to county staff.
Another amendment would allow cargo containers of specified heights and sizes to be kept on properties in certain zoning areas as long as “they are completely screened from public view by buildings, fences or walls, or are covered with wood siding and a roof,” according to Horn”s report.
The commission asked staff to review the safety and visual implications of the cargo container proposal. The cargo container and equestrian-related proposals will be brought back to the commission at another time, Coel said. The amendments recommended by the commission Thursday will be considered at a future BOS meeting.
Thursday”s meeting was Clelia Baur”s last as District 3 Planning Commissioner. Olga Martin Steele, who attended Thursday”s meeting, has been appointed to replace Baur.
Contact Jeremy Walsh at jwalsh@record-bee.com or call him at 263-5636, ext. 37.
