LAKEPORT >> A proposed zoning change covering four properties owned by Lake County Vector Control was denied by the Lakeport City Council after a public hearing held Tuesday night.
The zoning request intended to allow vector control to begin an expansion project at their facility, which is located at 410 Esplanade St. The plan would have consolidated four parcels owned by the districts, three of which have been used and owned by district for more than 60 years, and one that was purchased at auction in 2011. The fourth parcel is currently zoned as resort residential.
Two public hearings were held by the Lakeport Planning Commission on Nov. 12 and Jan. 14, during which neighbors of the facility spoke negatively of the amendments, as well as a proposed expansion. Opposition from neighbors continued during Tuesday’s hearing, when every public comment made was against the zoning change.
“You can’t do this tonight,” Lakeport resident Ron Bertsch told the council.
Bertsch said he and his wife, as well as other neighbors, were not notified of the public hearing, which is required by law.
Lakeport Community Development Director Kevin Ingram, said notifications were sent to everyone within a 300-foot radius of the facility and that a notification was published through local media.
“We went so far as to push it out to 325 feet,” Ingram asserted. “We send out these notices based on their most current tax roll information, wherever they received their property tax notices.”
Many of the residents also said they were not notified of a previous public hearing regarding a zoning change done in 2003. Furthermore, they could not find any published notification in local media.
“Before you consider this new re-zoning, you should look at the seeming illegality of the zoning change that supposedly happened in 2003,” Berna Schaffer said. “It seems to me that it was done with several irregularities and should be investigated before additional rezoning occurs.”
Val McMurdie voiced concerns regarding pedestrian safety, citing the lack of a sidewalk at and around the facility.
“I get concerned of people walking in the street with a lot of traffic,” McMurdie said.
Access for emergency vehicles during the day was also a concern.
District 4 Supervisor Anthony Farrington addressed the council on behalf of multiple residents and business owners who had contacted him.
“Is it truly best to have a government entity expand a piece of property that is lakefront?” Farrington asked.
General plan consistency and notification concerns, for both this hearing and the one in 2003, were also concerns Farrington mentioned.
As an alternative to expanding the Esplanade facility, Farrington recommended expanding vector control’s facility located on Todd Road.
Ultimately, the council denied the zoning change with a 5-0 vote.
Contact J. W. Burch, IV at 900-2022.
