LAKEPORT — The Lake County Planning Commission Thursday voted to move forward with an underground utility project on Mount Konocti”s Buckingham Peak.
Community Development Director Rick Coel said AT&T proposed to replace above ground utility lines with underground utilities between the Riviera West Subdivision to the county-owned communication tower site on Buckingham Peak. The proposed route would cross property owned by the county, Bureau of Land Management and the Riviera West Mutual Water Company.
AT&T plans to hire a contractor for the utility work, which consists of installing an underground power line and fiber optic cable in a 2-foot-wide-by-3-foot-deep trench. The trench would be nearly 3/4 of a mile in length and would follow the existing overhead utility line that stretches along the same route.
Following the completion of the trenching work, the overhead utility lines and approximately 30 power poles would be removed, Coel said. Additionally, he said there are plans to re-vegetate the trenched area with native species.
Coel said the project would last an estimated 60 days, with the goal to have the work finished before the rainy season begins. He said there will be some aesthetical scarring on the side of Mount Konocti that would last for approximately six months to one year, but the re-vegetation would blend it into the background with time. He said a Scotts Valley tribal monitor would be on site during the trenching.
Coel recommended the Planning Commission find the project in conformity with the Lake County General Plan, issue a mitigated negative declaration for the project and issue a complex grading permit subject to the conditions of a mitigation and monitoring plan.
A Riviera West resident said a utility easement exists near his home on Broadview Court and was concerned about the amount of traffic and equipment the project would create. He also had concerns for erosion and the possibility of boulders or debris striking his house.
Coel said erosion controls would be in place before the rainy season and annual monitoring reports would be required until the vegetation restored itself. He suggested the building of a temporary barrier that would act as a final line of defense for any boulders or debris and absorb the shock, similar to what Caltrans has in place along highways where rockslides are common.
Coel amended the report, adding the construction of the rock barrier as well as language that equipment staging would occur only on property belonging to the county, Riviera West Mutual Water Company or the Bureau of Land Management.
The commissioners voted 4-0 to approve Coel”s three recommendations for the project, with the rock barrier and equipment staging amendments. Commissioner Cliff Swetnam was absent from the meeting.
In other matters, the commission approved part of a plan to issue a minor use permit for the creation of a new winery.
Ira Lawson, owner of Red Lava Vineyards, located at 8250 Highway 29 between Lower Lake and Clear Lake Riviera, proposed a phased project in an existing metal barn on his property.
Peggy Barthel, assistant resource planner, said the first phase of the project is a small winery with an annual production of 15,000 cases or less. The second phase of the project would open the facility to the public as a tasting room.
Barthel said California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) mitigation measures would minimize any impacts from the project.
A few of Lawson”s neighbors said they had concerns about the project, including wastewater storage on site as well as traffic and noise impacts.
Senior Planner Emily Minton suggested amending the proposal to add secondary containment of wastewater storage prior to winery operations and the approval of phase one only, with the project not subject to further approval.
The commissioners voted 4-0 to approve the issuance of a mitigated negative declaration and the issuance of a minor use permit for the first phase of the project with Minton”s suggested amendments.
The commissioners also approved a proposal for a proposed BMX bicycle park on approximately half an acre of undeveloped land in Kelseyville Park.
District 5 Supervisor Rob Brown said a group of parent volunteers would construct the park at no cost to the county. He said the park was supported by the Kelseyville Business Association and Kelseyville Unified School District. He said the project would be consistent with the park, which is underutilized, and that it would only use a quarter acre to leave room for a possible skate park in the future.
The commissioners moved the project was in conformity with the County General Plan and approved it by a 4-0 vote.
Kevin N. Hume can be reached at kevin.n.hume@gmail.com or call directly 263-5636 ext. 14. Follow on Twitter: @KevinNHume.
