LAKEPORT >> In an update to Lake County’s 2050 Plan, numerous local area plan advisory committees (LAPAC) indicated a preference for a mixed use approach regarding of land use policy in a presentation by the Community Development Department at Tuesday’s Board of Supervisor’s Meeting.
But before Community Development Department Director Mireya Turner elaborated on GPAC’s evolving changes, she reminded the BOS chamber audience about a need to adopt a FEMA approved local hazard mitigation plan (LHMP) into the county’s general plan so it is compliant with state legislation, namely Assembly Bill 2140.
The bill passed in 2006 and allows California counties to be included for state cost share on eligible public assistance projects by adopting their current LHMP into the safety element of a current general plan. This adoption, along with a few other requirements, makes the county eligible for part or all of its local share costs on eligible assistance projects provided by the state through the California Disaster Assistance Act. AB2140, is not required, but it’s an optional state incentive to help counties to become more resilient to natural hazards.
When the board accepted adopting the LHMP in a resolution it required an update in the general plan in a timely manner. To fail to do s, could compromise the county’s ability to qualify for assistance in the future of various available grants. But according to state law, an update to the general plan requires a noticed public hearing, which is why the board had to proceed with its adoption during a regularly scheduled meeting.
So after a second motion, the board proceed with a vote and was passed unanimously. So through a resolution, it is clear to the state the county is in compliance with AB 2140, explained Turner. From there she segued to current changes the eight different LAPACs were recommending to the General Plan. Helping Turner as a tech assistant to display locations on their GIS Web Map viewer was Shannon Walker Smith, county deputy administrator.
“Land use mapping changes is most significantly impactful on the environmental review that we want you to see today,” said Turner. These recommendations went in front of the GPAC meetings as well. One of the recommendations from GPAC was support for all LAPAC recommendations
LAPAC recommended areas specifically for future housing. Pointing to the map showing the Cobb area, Turner indicated a currently used community pool and just north, a small triangle parcel that is now commercially zoned. For the future, this LAPAC wanted to expand beyond the pool and hope to see a future restaurant/ cafe and retail complex. The LAPAC recommend the zone be changed to Community Commercial so instead of just housing a surveyor/engineer’s office, it’d now offer a commercial restaurant. Moving south to Seigler St., The Seigler Springs Revitalization Association recommended changes to those parcels to allow a hamlet style mixed use community. “Mixed Use allow residential as well as commercial co-located built on a single parcel,” said Turner. “This red color on the map represents the Seigler Springs Assoc.’s idea of revitalization
“They’d rather have a more holistic, walkable neighborhood,” said Turner. She then pointed to parcels grouped together in a patch. “See those beige parcels, all residential, but the ones in the middle could have options for mixed use.” She then turned her attention to Kelseyville. She noted a concern here, children had to walk on the side of the street since there were few sidewalks and when they go to school in the morning, there is considerable traffic congestion as parents shuttle children to school. “Let’s place housing there, where the schools are,” she added. On the west side of the map there was a somewhat curved rectangle. It is an 8-acre parcel. Their LAPAC recommended this be changed to Medium Density Residential, for its proximity to the highway and the main road. “Housing is a big topic now in Kelseyville, because they are getting Multifamily Residential now,” Turner said. “So, they want to be deliberate where they want to place housing in the next 20 years.”
In Lakeport, a promising development was mapped out 15 to 20 years aqo called Cristalago, recalled Turner. Initially it was to be a golf center community and then changed to a wine center community, but nothing ever became of it. The Lakeport LAPAC would like to have this parcel to return to its original land use designation, rural lands rather than zoned as planned development residential or planned development commercial. Turner described it as sloped, remote, with no infrastructure. And a request from a landowner east of Cristilago, in the Walnut Drive area noted a portion of the land going west from there, has a high slope going to the highway area and in this small square is land that is not sloped, so, the LAPAC requested this latter parcel be changed to Medium Density residential. “That would match the adjacent parcel for the purpose of future housing going in there.” she said.
Over in Lower Lake there are a number of parcels along Morgan Valley Road, which already have water and sewer infrastructure. “LAPAC approved a request to change these parcels, Rural Residential to Suburban Reserve,” Turner said. Rural Reserve allows for five to 10 acres minimum, per parcel. Urban Reserve, would allow for future subdivisions for housing purposes to a minimum parcel size of one to three acres.”
In Middletown, there are parcels going toward the south, with a variety of land that could support commercial development. Their LAPAC, after robust debate, decided to change land use designations from Rural Residential and Rural Land to Resort Commercial. “That’s just where you hit Buck’s Canyon on that Ridge Line, go around the Ridge to the flat area, a little way before you hit Black Oaks,” Turner said. Meanwhile, In the Rivieras there is a high priority to find areas suitable for a future park. There is also a need for more housing development by changing some parcels to Low Density Residential, consistent with the Rivieras’ subdivisions.
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