LAKEPORT >> The Lakefront Revitalization Plan received approval from the Lakeport Planning Commission this week.
The document is intended as a guideline for improvements in access and presentability and public use of a 3.8 mile stretch of shoreline. Community Development Director Kevin Ingram said it includes existing land uses around the lakefront, current market conditions and community needs.
Some of the goals listed in the plan are to improve parking and circulation, extend and enhance the promenade, the development of a modern hotel to increase visitation and along the lake, as well as bettering coordination between businesses in the downtown area and activities on the lakefront.
The process leading up to Planning Commission approval hit a few snags.
“For a while, we were just overwhelmed with a lot of information and I think once we got to the point where we divided these areas out individually and then started putting in those recommendations I think we had a great breakthrough,” Ingram said.
The plan relied in part on surveys of the public, both residents and visitors. The surveys revealed interest in community events and more waterfront restaurants and shops.
“I’m still floored by the fact that after we got a chance to review the alternative sections, we got over 700 comments from our online survey and also in regards to our public outreach hearings we did,” Ingram said.
City officials have noted a decline in tourism downtown over recent years, leading to a decline in retail sales. They lay the blame for this trend in part on the closing of Konocti Harbor Resort and Spa, the water quality of Clear Lake, reservoirs offering similar activities and competition in wine tourism from neighboring counties.
The principal of Design Workshop in Lake Tahoe Steve Noll said when putting together the report he had to understand the land uses in the area and what ordinances are in place that allows projects to be put in place.
“What we were challenged to do was to is come back and see what has been done in the past and come up with something that is implementable. There really is an opportunity to move forward with these ideas,” Knolls said.
The city also looks at other communities where waterfront revitalization plans have been successful.
“This has been a long but fun process and we’ve got a tremendous amount of public comment from each phase of this process. Our design consultant did a phenomenal job at compiling all that different information,” Ingram said.
Some parcels in the lakefront are underused or underdeveloped and enhancing those could greatly increase the foot traffic of the city. Still, it is a process that is only just underway.
Privately owned cause difficulties when creating unified plans for enhancement. Ingram said the city plans on collaborating with the property owners to work around these obstacles, because these properties provide the greatest opportunity for improving the lakefront.
For some of aspects of the plan to be achieved within the bounds the city’s Zoning Ordinance, there may need to be updates. The plan will go through a review and be heard by the Lakeport City Council at one of their September meetings.
